Ballot wars

Follow Us Get the newsletter

U.S. voting rights advocates have been asking for bold moves from Washington; yesterday, they got a bold move to Washington. But even that might do little to stem the tide of Republican efforts to tighten ballot access. A majority of the Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives flew to the U.S. capital, temporarily forestalling a vote on one of the myriad Republican ballot overhaul measures filed in statehouses nationwide following Donald Trump's false claims of a stolen election. They're also urging Congress to pass legislation languishing in the Senate that would strengthen voting rights. President Joe Biden — who has been under pressure from Democratic activists and civil rights groups to push harder for a new federal law — is scheduled to deliver a speech on the topic today in Philadelphia, the city where the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787. Republican state lawmakers have passed dozens of new ballot restrictions this year, adding hurdles to mail-in voting, reducing local control over elections and targeting innovations used by large urban counties during the coronavirus pandemic. While the measures are framed as boosting election security, there's been no evidence of widespread fraud. Democrats say the proposals are naked attempts at voter suppression to tip the balance in tight races. But Republicans are unlikely to shift course any time soon. And their efforts to reshape voting in America could bear fruit as soon as November 2022 — when control of Congress and state governments will be at stake. — Kathleen Hunter

A bus carrying Texas Democratic lawmakers arrives next to a private plane bound for Washington. Photographer: Eric Gay/AP Click here to follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and tell us how we're doing or what we're missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net.

Global Headlines

Easing anxiety | Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to ease coronavirus restrictions is fueling worry that a surge in infections will strain hospitals and undermine Britain's economic recovery. Doctors are warning that the fresh toll of the pandemic will overburden an already beleaguered National Health Service that's struggling to clear a large backlog of other operations, while economists expect a dip in consumer confidence. The risks England face include hospitals coming under intense pressure, a new vaccine-resistant variant emerging, and as many as 200 Covid-19 deaths per day. Fringe theory | U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray and other top national security officials are on alert over the risk of renewed violence by Trump supporters. As Chris Strohm explains, the concern stems from a baseless prediction circulating on social media from conspiracy theorists like QAnon adherents that Trump will be reinstated as president as soon as next month. Taiwan tensions | Japan for the first time referred to the importance of stability around Taiwan in its annual defense report, ratcheting up concerns over an issue that's been a flashpoint in tensions between China and the U.S. The wording is set to increase friction between the two biggest economies in Asia after Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso said Japan and the U.S. would have to defend Taiwan together in the event of a major problem. White House officials are discussing proposals for a digital trade pact covering the Indo-Pacific area as they seek ways to check China's influence. The policy would represent an effort from Biden to present a plan for the region after Trump withdrew from talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal in 2017. Best of Bloomberg Opinion Lagarde Prepares the ECB for a Credibility Test: Lena Komileva U.S. Intervention in Haiti Is Not a Solution: Tyler Cowen Hong Kong's Exodus Is Real and Painful: Clara Ferreira Marques Looting blow | Some of the most violent protests in post-apartheid South Africa have dealt a body blow to efforts to rebuild its economy and pose the sternest test yet to President Cyril Ramaphosa's authority. The army has been deployed to help quell widespread looting and social unrest that followed ex-leader Jacob Zuma's imprisonment on contempt charges. Power hungry | Bitcoin miners crowded into a hotel in western China had a big problem, Will Mathis, Josh Saul, Alfred Cang and Zheping Huang report. After the Chinese government banned cryptocurrency mining weeks earlier, they had to figure out how to move millions of computers out of the country, abandoning China's cheap electricity for the extreme world of crypto power-hunting. What to Watch German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe will work to ensure gas supplies continue to flow through Ukraine after the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Germany and Russia. The Taliban warned Turkey of serious consequences over its decision to take over the security of Kabul's airport after the full withdrawal of U.S. troops in less than two months. Cuba appeared to block access to some social media sites including Facebook and Instagram yesterday as authorities crack down on dissent following the largest mass demonstrations in years. Johnson faces a rebellion in Parliament from his own Conservatives to force his government to abandon plans to slash the U.K. foreign aid budget by about $5.6 billion. A Haitian man who has lived in the U.S. was arrested for allegedly recruiting the hit squad that assassinated President Jovenel Moise, as police search for the masterminds of the plot. And finally ... The historic Belgian city of Leuven is renowned as the home of Stella Artois beer and for its centuries-old university. Less well-known is its world-class semiconductor research center, imec, which is pioneering the future of the chip industry. Alan Crawford reports that as computer chips become political weapons in the U.S.-China tech conflict, imec is increasingly in the sights of governments. A technician in an imec cleanroom. Photographer: Olivier Matthys/Bloomberg

Like Balance of Power? Get unlimited access to Bloomberg.com, where you'll find trusted, data-based journalism in 120 countries around the world and expert analysis from exclusive daily newsletters. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022