© 2026 ABC News

Biden spoke Tuesday alongside Vice President Kamala Harris from the grounds of Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse College.

\"We will fight to secure our most fundamental freedom -- the freedom to vote,\" Harris said, opening for the president. \"And that is why we have come to Atlanta today -- to the cradle of the civil rights movement, to the district that was represented by the great Congressman John Lewis, on the eve of the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.\"

\"PHOTO:
Patrick Semansky/AP
PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden arrive to speak in support of changing the Senate filibuster rules that have stalled voting rights legislation, Atlanta, Jan. 11, 2022.
>

Georgia is one of 19 states that have passed new restrictive voting laws since the 2020 election. There have been 34 such new laws in total across the country, according to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, and most of them in states controlled by Republicans.

Many of the new laws, fueled by false claims of widespread election fraud by the former president, take aim at mail-in voting, implement stricter voter ID requirements, allow fewer early voting days and limit ballot drop boxes.

WH press sec. Jen Psaki outlines Pres. Biden's trip to Georgia, where he will visit former district of late Rep. John Lewis and deliver remarks on voting rights.

\"He's quite focused on ensuring the American people understand what is at stake here.\" https://t.co/NFygQ8yam6 pic.twitter.com/7wfZnD5AQyThe Brennan Center calculates that 13 more restrictive laws are in the works, including one in Georgia that would ban the use of ballot boxes altogether.

Tuesday's trip was met with criticism from some voting groups that warned in a statement to the Atlanta Constitution-Journal that \"anything less\" than a finalized plan to pass voting rights in the House and Senate is insufficient and unwelcome.\"

\"PHOTO:
Brynn Anderson/AP, FILE
PHOTO: Stacey Abrams speaks to Biden supporters as they wait for former President Barack Obama to arrive and speak at a campaign rally for Biden at Turner Field in Atlanta, Nov. 2, 2020.
>

On Monday afternoon, The Asian American Advocacy Fund, Atlanta North Georgia Labor Council, Black Voters Matter Fund, GALEO Impact Fund and New Georgia Project Action Fund all said they wouldn't be attending the event and asked Biden and Harris to stay in Washington.

\"We don't need another speech,\" said Cliff Albright, executive director of the Black Voters Matter Fund. \"What we need is action – what we need is a plan.\"

Biden's Tuesday speech was the third he has delivered focused on the issue of voting rights. It came after the president signaled in an interview with ABC \"World News Tonight\" anchor David Muir said that he would be open to making a one-time Senate rule change to the filibuster that would allow a simple majority to pass new voting laws.

Notably, also not in attendance for Biden's speech was Stacey Abrams, the Georgia voting rights activist and candidate for governor.

Biden said he spoke with her Tuesday morning and blamed it on a scheduling issue.

\"I spoke with Stacey this morning. We have a great relationship. We got our scheduling mixed up. I talked to her at length this morning. We're all on the same page and everything is fine.\"

\"PHOTO:
Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP, FILE
PHOTO: Fulton County voters stand in line to participate in early voting in the state's runoff election at Chastain Park Gymnasium in Atlanta's Chastain Park neighborhood, Dec. 16, 2020.
>

In her briefing Monday, White House press secreatary Jen Psaki pushed back on criticism of the president, stressing that the speech Tuesday would be focused on moving forward.

\"We understand the frustration by many advocates that this is not passed into law yet. He would love to have signed this into law himself. But tomorrow's an opportunity to speak about what the path forward looks like to advocate for – for this moving forward in the Senate.\"

\"PHOTO:
Brian Snyder/Reuters, FILE
PHOTO: Girl Scouts from Troops 20777 and 18120 hold signs urging residents to vote in the runoff election for both of Georgia's Senate seats in Atlanta, Jan. 3, 2021.
>

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has promised a vote on voting rights legislation soon and warned that if Republicans filibuster the effort, he will force another vote by Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The White House has insisted Biden will \"work in lockstep\" with Schumer to move a vote forward but are taking it \"day by day.\"

Republicans, meanwhile, oppose the proposed federal voting laws, characterizing them as government overreach. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Democrats are promoting a \"fake narrative,\" \"fake outrage\" and \"fake hysteria\" on voting rights \"ginned up by partisans.\"

ABC News' Meg Cunningham contributed to this report.

","canonicalUrl":"https://abcnews.com/Politics/biden-supports-changing-filibuster-rule-pass-voting-rights/story?id=82187118","legacySlug":"/news/story/biden-supports-changing-filibuster-rule-pass-voting-rights-82187118","noIndexNoFollow":false},"publishTime":"23:15","publishDate":"01-11-2022","updatedTime":"12:11","updatedDate":"01-12-2022","socialImage":{"alt":"President Joe Biden speaks in support of changing the Senate filibuster rules that have stalled voting rights legislation, at Atlanta University Center Consortium, on the grounds of Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University, Jan. 11, 2022.","credit":"Patrick Semansky/AP","ratio":"16x9","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/General/atlanta-joe-biden-kamala-harris-03-ap-llr-220111_1641936559669_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg","width":992,"height":558},"datePublished":"1/11/2022 23:15:00 GMT","video":{"live":false,"id":82187118,"headline":"Biden says he supports changing filibuster rule ","mediaAssetTitle":"BIDEN VOTING RIGHTS SPEECH","description":"If bills are blocked there is \"no option\" but to change the Senate rule: Biden","duration":"3:39","posterImg":{"url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","width":608,"height":342},"video":{"feed":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/01/220111_wn_vega_639_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8"},"playlist":["132055565","131830882","130993584"]},"relatedItems":[{"contentType":"video","date":"April 15, 2026","headline":"American influencer found dead in Tanzania","section":"News","slug":"/video/132055565","id":"132055565","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: American influencer found dead in Tanzania","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260415_gma_norwood_ashlee2_732_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"April 8, 2026","headline":"Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","section":"News","slug":"/video/131830882","id":"131830882","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Ceasefire analysis, unanswered questions ahead","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260408_gma_krl1_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}},{"contentType":"video","date":"March 12, 2026","headline":"Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","section":"News","slug":"/video/130993584","id":"130993584","image":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","ratio":"1x1","url":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","width":384,"height":384},"images":{"alt":"VIDEO: Winter whiplash plunges temperatures along the East Coast","credit":"ABCNews.com","crops":[{"16x9":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"9x16":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_9x16_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_16x9_1600.jpg"}},{"1x1":{"small":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_608.jpg","medium":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_992.jpg","large":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/260312_gma_zee_storm2_hpMain_1x1_1600.jpg"}}]}}],"relatedContentSection":"news","schemaContent":{"name":"Biden says he supports changing filibuster rule ","description":"If bills are blocked there is \"no option\" but to change the Senate rule: Biden","duration":"3:39","uploadDate":"01-11-2022","publication":"01-11-2022","images":"https://s.abcnews.com/images/GMA/default-img-undefined.png","url":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/01/220111_wn_vega_639_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","contentUrl":"https://service-pkgabcnews.akamaized.net/opp/hls/abcnews/2022/01/220111_wn_vega_639_,500,800,1200,1800,2500,3200,4500,.mp4.csmil/playlist.m3u8","link":"https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/biden-supports-changing-filibuster-rule-pass-voting-rights-82187118"}},"playlist":[{"id":"132054443","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132054798","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"132033010","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131912713","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131830583","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131834976","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554765","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131554815","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131543053","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131432442","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131121474","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131247079","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131228784","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131178806","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131142257","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131046664","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131048076","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"131033212","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130999943","contentType":"story","section":"news"},{"id":"130971027","contentType":"story","section":"news"}],"kvps":{"pgtyp":"article","lang":"en","sp":"goodmorningamerica","programmatic":"true","bundleId":"com.abcnews"}},"analytics":{"accountID":"wdgnewwdgnewgmaweb","ns":"gma","pageName":"gma:news:video","pageType":"video","globalSpecVersion":"v1.08","siteDifferentiator":"gma:site","tagID":"g_page01","userABCookie":"0","section":"news","title":"Biden says he supports changing filibuster rule ","pubTime":"18:15","pubDate":"01-11-2022","modTime":"07:11","modDate":"01-12-2022","taxonomyTags":"none","id":82187118,"editorialOtherSubjects":"","wordCount":"none","columns":"none","authors":"","authorsUnit":"none","authorsBureau":"none","subBrand":"Good Morning America","provider":"Good Morning America","videoName":"Biden says he supports changing filibuster rule ","mediaAssetTitle":"BIDEN VOTING RIGHTS SPEECH","videoId":82187118,"mediaOnPage":"video","legacySlug":"/news/story/biden-supports-changing-filibuster-rule-pass-voting-rights-82187118"},"taboola":{}},"request":{"headers":{},"httpVersion":"1.1","method":"GET","url":"/video/82187118","vary":{"host":"www.goodmorningamerica.com","cached":true,"path":"/video/82187118","forwarded-proto":"https","device":"desktop","userab":"0"}},"viewport":{"width":1260,"height":0},"user":{}};