'We need to see outcomes': Voting rights activists demand more action from Biden

Manchin, who hails from ruby-red West Virginia, is seen as less susceptible to intraparty pressure.Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin said he hopes Biden’s speech signals “a period of more intense commitment” on the issue of voting rights.“We’re looking for him to do what he didn’t do last summer in his speech in Philly — go beyond naming the problem and instead actually explain what he’s going to do to get the two democracy bills passed,” he said, calling for “a combination of rallying the public and behind-the-scenes lobbying” from Biden.“Right now, more Republicans think democracy is in danger than Democrats do — and that’s because the de facto leader of the Republican Party hasn’t stopped spreading his Big Lie, while the leader of the Democratic Party has engaged with the issue only sporadically,” he said.Arkadi Gerney, the executive director of the liberal Hub Project, called on Biden to make clear his administration will be “using all of their capital to urge the Senate to update its rules” so that the Freedom to Vote Act can pass by a majority vote.Gerney added that changes to the Electoral Count Act, which are being considered by members of both parties, are a red herring — and may do more harm than good.