The partisan vote for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act illustrates strong divide on American issues as fundamental as the right to vote.
House Democrats passed a bill to restore voting rights. Now it’s up to the US Senate.
The bill, named after the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, aims to continue his fight to protect Americans’ right to vote.
While every Democrat voted yes, all Republicans voted no on this bill.
President Joe Biden thanked House Democrats and encouraged the Senate to move it forward.
It’s unlikely that it will pass in the Senate. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the bill “unnecessary,” claiming that voter suppression is not an issue.
What Is the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act?
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that prevent voter suppression, particularly to people of color. States will no longer be able to pass anti-voter laws such as limiting access to polling places or ballot boxes.
This bill reverses a 2013 US Supreme Court ruling that allowed states to change their voting laws without federal approval.
Republicans, who spent the last year discrediting the 2020 presidential election, continue to disagree with Democrats on what a fair election process looks like.
This partisan vote illustrates the strong divide between parties on American issues as fundamental as the right to vote.
Who Voted Against the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act?
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks)
- John Joyce (R-Blair)
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder)
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler)
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne)
- Scott Perry (R-York)
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny)
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster)
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre)
Full Pennsylvania Roll Call
- Brendan F. Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
- Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
- Michael F. Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Nay
- Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
- John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
- Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
- Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
- Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) Yea
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay
- Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) Yea
Politics
Biden makes 4 million more workers eligible for overtime pay
The Biden administration announced a new rule Tuesday to expand overtime pay for around 4 million lower-paid salaried employees nationwide. The...
Malcolm Kenyatta makes history after winning primary for Pa. Auditor General
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, who was first elected to the state House in 2018, won the Democratic nomination for Pa. Auditor General and will...
Biden administration bans noncompete clauses for workers
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted on Tuesday to ban noncompete agreements—those pesky clauses that employers often force their workers to...
Local News
What do you know about Wawa? 7 fun facts about Pennsylvania’s beloved convenience store
Wawa has 60 years of Pennsylvania roots, and today the commonwealth’s largest private company has more than 1,000 locations along the east coast....
Conjoined twins from Berks County die at age 62
Conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations,...