- President to speak on strengthening voting rights in Philadelphia
- Republicans have signed into law at least 28 voting restrictions
- Texas governor vows to arrest Democratic legislators who fled Austin
2.33pm BST
The Guardian’s Sam Levine has more details on the voting restrictions that Texas Republicans are trying to enact:
Texas Republicans are intent on a radical overhaul of voting laws in the state in ways that many Democrats and civil rights experts say will directly affect voters of color in a state that is becoming more Democratic. The laws include outlawing 24-hour polling places, banning ballot drop boxes and empowering partisan poll watchers.
Related: Why are Democratic lawmakers fleeing Texas over voter restrictions?
2.23pm BST
Joe Biden’s speech on voting rights also comes one day after Democratic legislators in Texas fled the state to break quorum for a special session and thus block Republican voting restrictions.
Texas Republicans failed to advance their voting bill during the regular session because Democrats staged a walkout at the 11th hour, running out the clock until the session ended.
Related: Governor vows to arrest Democrats who fled Texas to block voting restrictions
2.20pm BST
Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.
This afternoon, Joe Biden will deliver a speech on strengthening voting rights at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ahead of Pres. Biden’s voting rights speech this week, press sec. Psaki says state “efforts to strip the right to vote” are “authoritarian” and “the worst challenge to our democracy since the Civil War.” https://t.co/StP8jCyZ69 pic.twitter.com/NGcfowoct3