January 14, 2022

Voting Rights Push Hits a Major Hurdle following Speech by Sen. Sinema

President Biden spoke in Atlanta Tuesday, painting a dire picture for the nation’s future elections during a major speech on voting rights while expressing his frustration at Republicans who are blocking voting rights legislation. He called on the Senate to change its filibuster rules to accommodate passage of voting rights reform.

However, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) gave a speech opposing filibuster changes on Thursday, casting a major cloud over that voting rights push.

Her statement came just as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) was set to trigger the battle over changing Senate rules.

Adding to the drama, the House had just passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, a critical piece of voting rights legislation, when Sen. Sinema spoke. That legislation combines key elements of the previously House-passed John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Senate’s Freedom to Vote Act.

“We cannot give up on the push for voting rights,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “There is too much at stake to lose our democracy because we were unable to pass a national voting rights law. Nineteen state legislatures have enacted laws that will make it harder for Americans to vote this year and many others are trying to do the same thing.”