A legislation, that addresses the reduction of barriers for voters, was introduced in the US Senate by lawmakers affiliated with the Democratic party while various recorded efforts by Republican lawmakers have been noted which aim to achieve the opposite result after sustaining a defeat in the 2020 US Presidential elections. 

The Senate, which put forward its own version of the ‘For the People Act’ it got approval from the US House of Representatives, is all set to discuss and potentially amend regulations that will eliminate dark money from US politics, smoothen the process of mail-in voting, enable voters to get same-day registration and declare election day federal holiday in the state, reported AFP.

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A non-partisan blocking ploy called filibuster is likely to restrict the legislation from passing due to the requirement of 60 votes in the Senate, which is currently at a 50-50 stalemate between the Democrats and Republicans. However, it is all set to pave the way for intense deliberations of unrestricted elections. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the measure will receive a hearing next Wednesday and a floor vote after that.

It will force Republicans to go on record over a bill that will “stand up to voter suppression… and re-invigorate American democracy in the 21st century,” he said, reported AFP.

After November’s presidential win by Joe Biden, dozens of states with Republican-controlled legislatures seized on what Schumer described as former president Trump’s “big lie” that massive voter fraud led to a stolen election.

The legislatures introduced “over 250 bills making it harder for people to vote,” Schumer said, attacking Republican efforts to prevent Americans, especially people of color, from exercising their constitutional rights, reported AFP. 

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“That is anti-democratic, that is anti-American, and it’s nothing short… of despicable, nasty, and in many cases racist.”

The Senate bill would permit no-excuse mail voting, alter finance laws of campaigning, uplift security protocols of elections and require the legal need for at least 15 days of legal voting. 

Republicans in the House argued that the legislation, if passed, would provide extended control to the federal government to give an unfair advantage in elections. 

On the other hand, Democrats in the US Senate, in addition to advocating for the legislation, also argued about the review of the filibuster vote.