Voting rights

The Freedom to Vote Act includes provisions that are at odds with Texas' recently adopted voting law.

Voter registration drives in Kansas have slowed to a trickle while a new election law is challenged in court, but Republicans are undeterred.

As of this writing, there are four lawsuits in federal court and one in state court.

Texas Democrats made their way to the U.S. Capitol to pressure Congress into voting for federal voting protections. But politics in Washington make that less likely with each passing day.

The vote on the Republican-led election legislation follows unprecedented efforts by Democrats to block it.

With quorum restored, the GOP marches toward restricting counties' ability to provide 24 hour voting and curbside voting, among other changes.

Voting rights experts say the latest bill still would make it harder to vote in Texas, but it's less restrictive than what almost passed in May.

The Houston Democrat was on her feet speaking, not allowed to sit or lean against her desk, and unable to take bathroom breaks or drink water, since Wednesday evening. Her effort is more of a symbolic gesture than an attempt to block passage of the bill.

Activists marched from Georgetown to Austin to denounce proposed changes to the state's voting laws. Many say the changes would make it harder for people to vote.

Texas Republicans pushed back forcefully, denying Democratic claims that the state election bill would suppress voting and discriminate against minority voters.