Now, the year is winding to a close — and no legislation has made its way to Biden’s desk, sparking complaints from activists and reform advocates who say the president is not putting enough muscle into the fight. Some warn that the lack of action is frustrating the Democratic base at a key moment in his presidency, potentially depressing voters who have been told constantly that the right to vote is under attack.

“We started this wave of protests, because we feared that President Biden misunderstood history,” said Ben Jealous, the president of People For the American Way. “He said you just can’t stop voters from voting. It’s just not true.”

“We feel like he has moved on that,” he continued. “The question is does he have the courage to actually stand up for the voters who had his back? Does he have the courage to stand up for our democracy, even as he convenes other nations for his democracy summit?”