Democrats Build Constitutional Case for New Voting Rights Bill

Democrats are taking a deliberate approach with a voting rights bill that would return oversight power of some states’ election laws to the federal government. They’re using congressional hearings to build a case for the legislation to both improve its chances of becoming law and survive an inevitable court challenge.

The House Administration Elections Subcommittee is holding its fourth hearing Friday on the yet-to-be-introduced John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, chair of that subcommittee, said he expects 16 hearings to be held on the bill, including some held by the House and Senate Judiciary committees, and ...