Mayors of some of the biggest cities in Texas, including three cities in the DFW area, are urging the U.S. Senate to pass two pieces of voting rights legislation. They joined more than 150 local officials from across the country who signed a letter from the U.S. Conference of Mayors showing support for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
"I think that supporting John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is the right thing to do to ensure that voters have the opportunity to vote," said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross.
The Mayors of Dallas and DeSoto also signed the letter, along with the mayors of Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville and Port Arthur.
The bills have been supported by Democratic lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and opposed by Republicans. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross does not believe there should be a partisan divide over the right to vote.
"I don't consider myself a Republican or a Democrat. I'm in a non-partisan position here," he said. "For me, standing strong with the Constitution and making sure that everybody has the opportunity to vote is the right thing to do."
Republicans in the U.S. Senate have blocked the measures from coming up for a vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, has said he is willing to bring up the Senate's filibuster rules for possible changes later this month. Those changes would allow Democrats to advance the bills without getting a 60-vote majority. Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona have both said they would oppose changing the rules.
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