Voting Rights Stalled Again in Senate After GOP Blocks Bill

Democrats sought to restore some protections from 1964 act
Failure of measure likely to increase calls to end filibuster

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 2. — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 2.
Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg

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By Daniel Flatley and Laura Litvan

November 3, 2021 at 7:30 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Senate Republicans blocked legislation designed to restore some protections from the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Forty-nine senators who caucus with Democrats and one Republican voted to advance legislation to give the federal government oversight over state election laws in some cases, falling well short of the 60-vote threshold needed to start debate on the bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer changed his vote to “no” so that he could seek to have the legislation reconsidered.