Freedom To Vote Act John Lewis

Senate Republicans Block Voting Rights Bill

Measure named after civil rights icon John Lewis fails to advance

Washington, D.C. - Senate Republicans voted down a sweeping voting rights bill on Wednesday night, dealing a blow to Democrats' last-ditch effort to pass the legislation before the midterm elections. The bill, named after civil rights activist John Lewis, sought to restore and strengthen protections for voting rights that have been weakened in recent years.

Uphill Battle for Voting Rights

The bill, known as the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, passed the House of Representatives earlier this year, but faced an uphill battle in the Senate, where Republicans have consistently opposed Democratic efforts to expand voting access.

The failure of the bill to advance in the Senate is a setback for Democrats, who have made voting rights a top priority in the wake of a wave of restrictive voting laws passed in Republican-controlled states. The bill would have restored and updated the full protections of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, which has been weakened by Supreme Court rulings in recent years.