There’s an urgency to act because Democrats — and some Republicans — worry that a possible GOP-controlled House, wary of triggering former President Donald Trump’s ire, would ignore the issue next year.
, and as the clock ticks on the current Democratic-controlled Congress it remains unclear when a vote will take place, or what the proposals will ultimately look like.
“I hope there’s going to be a vote soon,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, a member of the bipartisan group that developed the bills. One reason for the delay is the calendar. Congress is racing to avert a government shutdown before Sept. 30, when the current fiscal year ends. That's when leaders of both parties expect to adjourn so members can go home and campaign in their districts. And Schumer has also guaranteed a vote on legislation to protect same-sex marriage, which could further eat up time and cause a contentious debate.The second reason is that the proposals aren’t ready for prime time.
The second bill is the Enhanced Election Security and Protection Act, which would establish new rules for protecting electronic records and toughen penalties for intimidating poll workers or officials. There is some pessimism that it won’t have the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, as some Republicans, including Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Sen. Lindsey Graham of south Carolina, have endorsed the first bill but not the second.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., agreed with Tillis, though he said that Congress must give priority to the Electoral Count Act. Many Republicans are expected to oppose the package, wary of alienating Trump supporters who might see it as a jab at the former president.
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