[JURIST] NAACP [advocacy website] leaders say that at least 1,000 members attending the organization's annual convention [meeting website] now underway in Washington, DC will go to Capital Hill this Wednesday to urge the Senate to renew portions of the Voting Rights Act [text; DOJ backgrounder] that are soon to expire. NAACP President Bruce Gordon [NAACP profile] stated that "the NAACP is paying close attention" to the possible renewal of the legislation. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist [official website] stated Friday that he expects easy passage of a bill to renew the Voting Rights Act [JURIST report] when the Senate votes on the measure at the end of July or after the month-long August break.

The House of Representatives passed the renewal bill [JURIST report] on Thursday by a vote of 390-33 after House GOP leaders had to withdraw it from the floor agenda in June after opposition from a number of conservative Southern lawmakers. The Boston Globe has more.