The voting rights bill has undoubtedly stalled due to Republicans in Senate, but West Virginia Democrat, Joe Manchin, also has a role to play. He is so pivotal to the vote that calls are coming from several quarters, including in sports, for him to help pass the bill. This article by Shawna Mizelle is published by CNN. Here is an excerpt:

University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban and other prominent sports figures with ties to West Virginia have penned a letter to Sen. Joe Manchin, urging the West Virginia Democrat to help his party pass voting rights legislation.

NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, ex-NFL player and former West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck and ex-NFL and former West Virginia football player Darryl Talley joined Saban in voicing their support for what they called “urgently needed legislation that will protect both the rights of voters and the integrity of outcomes in all Federal elections.” The letter was also signed by former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who has no known ties to West Virginia.

Democracy, they wrote, “is best when voting is open to everyone on a level playing field; the referees are neutral; and at the end of the game the final score is respected and accepted.”

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