Biden meets with advisers and experts on voting rights

President Biden on Monday met with advisers and experts on voting rights after he vowed to speak more about the issue following a failed Senate vote on a major piece of election legislation.

The group “discussed anti-voter legislation that has been proposed or recently passed by state legislatures, legislation pending before Congress, and recent actions taken by the Department of Justice to protect the right to vote,” the White House said in a statement, though it did not disclose who attended the meeting.

“The President and his staff highlighted ways that the Administration will continue working with Congress to pass critical legislation and ramp up engagement with the American people on voting rights,” the White House said. “The President also reiterated his unwavering determination to win the fight to protect the sacred right to vote in free and fair elections.”

The meeting took place as the White House has faced pressure from progressives to show it is more active in the fight to protect voting rights. Some Democratic lawmakers, such as Rep. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), argued Biden had not been outspoken enough ahead of a Senate vote last week on the For the People Act, a major piece of voting rights legislation that failed to garner a single GOP vote.

Biden said he would speak more on the issue this week after the vote failed, though it’s unclear when that will happen.

“He’s looking forward to addressing the public. As we get his final date locked in, I can preview it for you in more detail,” press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Biden has repeatedly spoken about voting rights as a top priority for his administration, cautioning that democracy is under attack as GOP-led legislatures enact stricter voting laws following the 2020 election. Vice President Harris is leading the administration’s efforts on protecting voting rights, though her work thus far has largely been focused on listening sessions with community leaders and state officials.