We've been expressing a lot of optimism about the possible Senate floor vote on the voting rights legislation this week, but it bears clarifying that what's expected tomorrow afternoon will not in fact be an up or down vote on the bill -- in case you were hoping for hot, hot Senate action right away.

The Senate will proceed to the cloture vote tomorrow as planned, in an attempt to record the 60 or more votes the bill likely needs to move forward. But assuming that actually happens, the leadership is then planning on tabling the bill, setting it behind the rest of the work the Senate needs to complete, like appropriations, before October. Basically this will happen because of some of those esoteric and complicated procedural rules that seem to keep popping up regarding this particular bill, which could still require a lengthy floor debate the legislative body wouldn't have time for in the immediate -- rest assured, the Senate Democratic leadership still says it plans to bring it back to the floor for a vote before the Columbus Day break, on Oct. 8.

Of course, a successful vote tomorrow to close debate would still be a dramatic victory, but also something of a huge tease for the District's 600,000 residents. Then again, we've waited 206 years for any semblance of voting rights in the U.S. Congress. We can wait a little longer -- and of course, we'll bring you any Senate floor action in live-blog form tomorrow.