"We will get this bill ready and hopefully announce it on Aug 6, a bill that can be sent to the Senate," stated Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., noting that the bill could possibly be introduced on the anniversary the landmark 1965 legislation was signed. He said that a vote would probably take place later.Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated that it was important not to get too worried about the date for a vote. "When it's ready, we can call members back."As President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer meet later Friday to discuss voting rights legislation, Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will be preparing for the introduction. The opposition of Senate Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), to certain provisions have prevented Democrats from introducing their larger ethics and elections measure. This has left Democrats frustrated and unable to move forward.They've intensified their advocacy in the interim: Three House Democrats were arrested at Hart Senate Office Building over protests regarding voting rights in the past three weeks.Pelosi stated that the sanctity and legitimacy of the vote is a top priority.After a meeting with key Democrats, Schumer and Pelosi about voting rights, the Senate leader met with several Democrats including West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. Manchin is the only member of the caucus that has not backed the party's massive election overhaul.Senator Amy Klobuchar (D.Minn.), who is also chair of the Senate Rules Committee, stated that senators are very close to a compromise.Klobuchar stated that he believes we have made real progress during a Thursday press conference. If we just said nope, Senate rules prevent us from doing this, I don't think we would continue.Klobuchar didn't go into detail about the new package but he did tick off provisions regarding gerrymandering and voting by mail that could be part of a revised approach.But it also means that the two Democratic-controlled chambers of Congress are progressing on separate tracks. In March, the House passed the larger elections bill. The Lewis bill they had previously passed would have reintroduced a requirement that certain states obtain changes to their election laws pre-approved either by the Department of Justice, or a D.C.-based Federal Court before it could go into effect.Some voting rights activists are becoming increasingly disillusioned or angry about Washington's apparent lack of action.I am a positive person but also realistic and pragmatic at the end, Martin Luther King III, son of the civil rights icon who was killed earlier this week, stated. My positive hope is that there will be a 60-70 percent chance of something being signed into law. My realistic is a bit higher than 50 percent.King and civil rights leaders met earlier in the week with a few legislators on Capitol Hill, including Schumer or Manchin.He claimed that the West Virginian had told him that he was working alongside a number of colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and that he believed there could be a core group supporting a package that revolved around the Lewis bill. Manchin has previously stated that he supports the Lewis bill.King stated that he had discussed with Manchin a carve out to a filibuster regarding voting rights legislation. King stated that he has committed to obtaining 60 votes. If that fails, it is not clear what his next position will be for me.Others believe that the White House should be involved more in this fight. Barbara Arnwine (founder of Transformative Justice Coalition) said that he would be bold about removing the filibuster and removing it from the fight. We must question his level of commitment until he does.You have to either get the extra votes to reach 60 or remove the filibuster. She continued, "There is no in-between." Arnwine, along with other activists, were arrested earlier in the week as they protested voting rights at one of Democratic Senator Krysten Sinemas Arizona offices.Many groups also want Biden to have more meetings with activists. A group of Texas legislators who fled Texas earlier in the month are still calling for Biden to meet them. They also met with Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States.Texas lawmakers feel that there is not enough time. They point out that the Senate recess is fast approaching and the end to the special session they have blocked next week.Several prominent members of the AAPI community are urging President Obama to invite them into the conversation about voting rights.We are often an afterthought in the process. Varun Nikore of the AAPI Victory Fund said that we have received very little recognition from the White House about this election. He also stated that his community feels that they are being targeted by Republican-led election laws in their states following record turnout in 2020. Nikore stated that AAPI community leaders were invited to a recent call with Harris' Domestic Policy Council, but that he would love to see AAPI leaders meet directly with Biden or Harris to discuss voting rights.He said that historically it has been a Black issue for a long time and that the White House should have met with Black leaders. They need to share the love and engage with a wider range of people, given the recent election results and new trends.Heather Caygle contributed to the report.
