I’ve been saying for weeks that Manchin would want a voter ID provision to get his support. I think this is a good proposal and it should be passed. The point here is to guarantee EV and to limit the ability of states to restrict voter eligibility and ballot access. This does that.
I also think, based on the Intercept scoop, that we are much closer to an exception to the filibuster to pass S1 than many may think. Manchin is having a hard time defending the filibuster and rather than have a permanent change to the rule to lower the threshold from 60 to 55, the lobbyist groups would much rather, imho, support a one-off exception for voting rights.
In addition, it’s becoming clearer that much of the AFP will be passed through reconciliation, and that it may also include a lowering of medicare eligibility to 60 and immigration reform (including making undocumented folks citizens).
Things are moving in the right direction.