It seems the US is right back in the 1960s, as debates over voting rights bills continue.

On Wed, Jan. 19, Democrats failed to pass their new voting rights bill, the Freedom to Vote Act, over failure to caucus together and change the filibuster. Two Senators, Joe Manchin (WV) and Krysten Sinema (AZ), refused to bypass the filibuster because they believe it is an unfair partisan vote.

The filibuster is a Senate practice where Senators can either individually or together block the vote on legislation. If Democrats altered the practice it would allow the Senate to bypass the 60 votes needed to have a final vote take place.

The blockage of the bill is another hit to Democrats, who also recently fell short of passing their Build Back Better infrastructure bill over similar disagreements about the filibuster and caucusing together.

The voting rights legislation includes universal vote by mail, universal early voting, Election Day as a national holiday, and preventing partisan gerrymandering. The bill was created by Senator Amy Kloubachar (MN) and Manchin himself. It has so far received no GOP support.

The Freedom to Vote Act was also combined with the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which is seen as a renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The renewed push for voting rights comes from the new state laws that have restricted access to vote, particularly with mail in voting. The state laws have been reported to have a negative impact on minority communities, who mostly voted by mail-in the past 2020 Presidential election.

On the forefront of the fight for expanding voting rights is Georgia, where both President Biden and Vice President Harris visited earlier this month. Georgia was a swing state in the last election and went to Biden. After the state went blue, the state legislature passed a restrictive voting rights bill.

In his speech in Georgia, Biden declared, “You know, for the right to vote and to have that vote counted is democracy’s threshold liberty.”

The Freedom to Vote Act would overturn bills like the one passed in Georgia, but unfortunately for Democrats, passage of the bill seems unlikely now due to the infamous Manchin-Sinema team-up.

According to the Hill, “In a statement after the vote, Biden said that he was ‘profoundly disappointed’ in the Senate.”

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, also expressed disappointment, arguing, “The only choice to move forward on these vital issues is to change the rules in the modest way we have proposed. My colleagues, history is watching us. Let us choose in favor of our democracy.”

Joe Manchin has fired back arguing that changing the filibuster is an unfair partisan move and Democrats are, “[breaking] the rules to change the rules.”

Sinema similarly agreed stating the change to the filibuster is “radical.”

It seems for now that voting rights legislation will not be passed under the current Democratic Senate majority. There have now been new calls to primary Manchin and Sinema, who are both up for re-election in 2024. However, America might see new Democratic legislation if the party performs well in the midterms this year.

Although America will have to see just how restrictive the state laws will be in November and if a push for expanded voting rights is necessary for America’s democracy.