Washington, DC (CNN) Sen. Joe Manchin will not back the For the People Act, the sweeping elections and campaign finance overhaul sought by Democrats to blunt Republican state-level efforts to restrict voting access, a spokeswoman for the West Virginia Democrat confirmed Wednesday. Manchin -- who had previously expressed reservations about moving forward with a far-reaching measure without bipartisan support -- suggested instead using the John Lewis Voting Rights Act as the path forward. Manchin's proposal comes just one day after the Senate Rules Committee deadlocked 9-9 along partisan lines on passing the For the People Act out of committee Tuesday, revealing the tough path ahead for the Democratic legislation, which touches on everything from rules for early voting to public funding for Senate candidates. Manchin's suggestion for voting rights legislation -- the John Lewis Voting Rights Act -- is a bill far less sweeping than the For the People Act, but brings back major pieces of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, including a provision that require states to consult with the federal government before making major changes to their voting rules. Manchin's support of that bill was first reported by ABC NewsRead More

Source: CNN May 12, 2021 22:38 UTC