House Ends Proxy Voting Efforts, Adopts Vote-Pairing for New Parents

The House of Representatives has decided against implementing a proxy voting system for new parents, opting instead for a centuries-old practice known as 'vote pairing.' This decision comes after a bipartisan push, led by Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen and Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, aimed to allow new parents to vote remotely for up to 12 weeks after the birth of a child. While vote pairing allows absent lawmakers to offset their votes with those of present members, it does not fully meet the needs of new parents, as highlighted by Pettersen during the debate. She criticized the agreement brokered by House Speaker Mike Johnson, stating that it fails to address the challenges faced by parents in Congress. Despite this setback, Pettersen and others plan to continue advocating for a more flexible voting system for new parents. The issue garnered significant attention, especially after Pettersen brought her newborn to the Capitol to cast her vote earlier this year.