Democrat Joe Manchin, Senator of West Virginia, announced on Sunday that he would not support the voting rights bill championed by his own party because of Republican opposition.
What We Know:
- In a column written for the Charleston Gazette-Mail, Manchin stated he would not support partisan legislation as it “will destroy the already weakening bonds of our democracy.” Manchin’s vote has the potential to sway the already evenly split Senate on the For the People Act.
- The For the People Act is the Democrat’s response to legislation passed in Republican-controlled states to restrict voting practices. It would ensure automatic and same-day voter registration, place limits on gerrymandering, and restore voting rights for felons, among other considerations.
- The proposed act had passed through the House in March, but as it enters the Senate floor, Republicans remain opposed. Manchin’s statement and the filibuster leave little hope for success as the parties appear to be tied.
- Manchin has not provided further context to his opposition other than the partisan nature of the bill. He has also denounced the restrictive voting laws but also politicians who dismiss the need for election security.
- The senator has endorsed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act instead. Named after the late Georgia Congressman, it would reauthorize protections from the Civil Rights era that were previously eliminated in 2013 by the Supreme Court.
Republicans have continued to endorse the belief popularized by the Trump administration that election security means more restrictions on voters. The passage of legislation restricting voting rights has occurred in 14 states, including Texas and Georgia.
