Democrats' voting and elections bill fails to advance in Senate over GOP opposition

Washington — A revamped bill aimed at strengthen voting rights and overhauling the nation's election systems failed to advance in the Senate on Wednesday, as Democrats couldn't overcome unanimous opposition from Republicans who criticized the bill as federal overreach.

The procedural vote to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act was 49 in favor to 51 against, far short of the 60 votes needed to advance the measure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer changed his vote to "no" as a procedural maneuver that allows him to bring the bill to the floor again. All 50 Republicans voted against advancing to debate.

Prospects had appeared dim for the bill, a revised effort by Democrats to advance one of their signature legislative efforts this year — protecting and enhancing the nation's patchwork of state-run election systems. The push for an overhaul came as Texas and other states put in place new voting laws that critics argue are a return to Jim Crow-style restrictions making it difficult to cast ballots, especially in Black and minority communities.