RALEIGH, N.C.  – A vote by the North Carolina Senate on whether attorneys could offer a statistical argument showing that racial prejudice put a killer on death row has been postponed.

Bill sponsor Sen. Floyd McKissick of Durham County rescheduled the vote on what supporters call the Racial Justice Act from Tuesday to Wednesday as he tried to round up votes

The measure would allow judges to consider whether statistical data show race was behind the decision of prosecutors to seek, or jurors to impose, the death penalty.

In May, the Senate approved a version that would help remove obstacles that have effectively blocked executions for two years. That provision was removed by the House.