Pelosi abandons plan to allow voting by proxy on legislation

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has abandoned her plan to proceed with a vote Thursday to change House rules and permit "proxy voting" on legislation at least through the coronavirus pandemic, amid opposition from Republicans.

The California Democrat reportedly announced her decision about not moving forward on proxy voting during a call Wednesday with congressional leaders.

Pelosi has instead formed a bipartisan task force to studying remote-voting options, after Republicans in the Democrat-controlled chamber reportedly said they have been excluded in a process, which would significantly change House rules.

The calls for allowing remote voting are growing among lawmakers as the pandemic continues. 

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Tuesday that the full House would vote on proxy voting and the effort was an "interim" step toward full remote video voting on bills.

Pelosi has not expressed support for remote voting on bills, having said she would wait for a review of the process by the Democratic-led House Rules Committee. 

Hoyer has said he would personally support lawmakers casting votes remotely via FaceTime or Zoom during emergencies when lawmakers are not able to gather in-person in the chamber.

"We don't need secret technology," Hoyer also said Tuesday. "We don't need highly secure technology. Frankly, if I'm in my den here in St. Mary's County, and the (House) clerk is looking at me over FaceTime and I say, 'aye' and the clerk recognizes me then they mark me as 'aye.' I'm not asking anybody else to cast my vote for me. I'm casting it personally."