A vote for cloture, which is a vote to move to end debate on Kavanaugh’s nomination, will set in motion a 30-hour countdown clock that will end with a vote by the full Senate on Saturday.
The vote comes a day after senators saw an FBI report on allegations that Kavanaugh sexually assaulted women while he was in high school and college. According to GOP Senate leaders, the report did not corroborate the allegations made by Dr. Christine Ford and Deborah Ramirez.
The vote to be taken Friday is a procedural vote to close down debate on Kavanaugh's nomination so it can be voted on. A simple majority, 51 senators, is needed for cloture to pass.
Here is what will happen Friday morning.
What time: The vote will be taken at 10:30 a.m., one hour after the Senate goes into session, per the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
What channel: The vote will be televised on all cable news channels and on C-SPAN 2. Click here for C-Span's live stream.
Live update: Click here for live updates of the vote.
Why take this vote on Friday: A vote will be taken to cut off debate on the nomination and move it on to a full vote by the Senate. A simple majority -- 51 senators -- is needed for cloture to pass.
What happens next: After the cloture vote, 30 hours must pass before a motion to bring Kavanaugh's nomination to a vote can be made. That is expected to take place sometime on Saturday afternoon or evening.
About the Author