Freshman Democrats call on McConnell to hold vote on election reform bill

A group of 62 freshmen House Democrats demanded Wednesday that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) allow a vote on a sweeping election reform and security bill previously passed by the House.

The bill includes language to reform the election process, along with language to secure voting systems against cyber attacks. Senate Democrats have also introduced a companion bill.

{mosads}Members who signed the letter include Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).

Twelve members spearheaded the letter, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Max Rose (D-N.Y.), Colin Allred (D-Texas), Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Katie Porter (D-Calif.), and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).

McConnell, though, has shown no sign he’ll agree to hold a Senate floor vote.

A spokesperson for McConnell reiterated to The Hill the Senate leader’s previous remarks on the bill in March, at which time McConnell said that “this sprawling, 622-page doorstop is never going to become law. I certainly don’t plan to even bring it to the floor here in the Senate.”

The bill was the first major piece of legislation introduced by the new House Democrat majority in January. Beyond its provisions on cybersecurity, it would require redistricting commissions to prevent gerrymandering, tighten rules around political lobbyists and stop foreign money from being used in U.S. elections.