Voting changes and more in Democrats’ broad elections bill

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI
Associated Press

The sweeping elections bill in the Senate deals with much more than voting changes. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act would create national automatic voter registration, allow all voters to cast ballots by mail and weaken voter ID laws. It also would ban partisan gerrymandering and force “dark money” groups to disclose their major donors. It’s an effort by Democrats to pass a major overhaul before the November elections. And it’s a response to what voting advocates say is an effort by Republican-led states to make it harder for Black Americans and others to vote.