JUST IN: Senate Republicans Block Voting Rights Bill

Senate Republicans voted against a motion to begin debate on voting rights legislation.

The motion required 60 votes to proceed, but every single Republican voted against it. The final vote was 49-51.

The 51st vote was from Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), so that he could bring the bill back up again another time.

The Freedom to Vote Act is one of two voting rights bills Democrats have been pushing for. The legislation would, among other things, make Election Day a national holiday and expand early voting.

Schumer said after Wednesday’s vote that the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will come up for a vote next week.

In a statement before the vote, President Joe Biden said the Senate “needs to act” to protect the right to vote.

“Democracy — the very soul of America — is at stake,” the president said.