Senate Democrats planning procedural vote on new voting rights bill before recess

Senate Democratic leaders are planning to hold a procedural vote on new election reform bill before the August recess begins, a senator close to the process said Friday. 

"We anticipate that we will again try to move a bill to the floor before we leave here sometime this coming week," Oregon Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley said during a press conference with Texas state representatives who fled Texas for D.C. last month in protest of state GOP voting legislation. "You never know with the U.S. Senate how long things will take."

Merkley described the legislation as "Manchin 2.0," referring to the proposal West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin supported as a replacement to the Democrats' "For the People Act." He said the new proposal will include a "national set of standards" for voting.

"It takes on dark money. It takes on gerrymandering by setting standards for redrawing districts. It takes on early voting, vote by mail protections, registration protections, polling day protections, so standards that will ensure a clean, clear path for every American to cast their ballot," Merkley said.

Merkley said the Democrats must "find a way" to pass national voting legislation if the latest proposal fails to garner enough votes in the Senate. 

He was asked if Democrats will add voting provisions to the $3.5 trillion filibuster-proof reconciliation bill

"I am going to defer to the majority leader to lay out how that vote will be held," he replied.