WASHINGTON — The Senate began debate on voting rights legislation Tuesday for the first time this Congress, inching toward putting every member of the chamber on the record about where they stand on the issue.
But the legislation is almost certain to die, perhaps as early as Wednesday.
The bills Democrats want to pass — the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act — will fall short of receiving the 60-vote threshold needed to end debate, and Democrats lack the unanimous support required in their caucus to change the rules to lower that supermajority requirement.
