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Of the many crises that face the country, perhaps the most important is the coordinated Republican attack on voting rights. Since the beginning of the year, new laws have been enacted in 19 states that could disenfranchise minority voters by making it harder to vote. Once-rock-solid red states won by President BidenJoe BidenGruden out as Raiders coach after further emails reveal homophobic, sexist comments Abbott bans vaccine mandates from any 'entity in Texas' Jill Biden to campaign with McAuliffe on Friday MORE are leading the way.

In Arizona, a new statute threatens election officials with felony prosecution if ballots are mailed to voters who did not request them, while in Georgia it is a misdemeanor to distribute food and water to those waiting in line. The Georgia law also prohibits unsolicited mailing of absentee ballot applications and requires voters to submit identification to have their requests approved. Both states give the legislature the power to certify results, removing the secretary of state from carrying out this traditional formality.

In Arizona, Democrat Katie Hobbs certified Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election, while in Georgia Republican Brad Raffensperger formalized Bidens win despite Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro enters governor's race GOP lawmakers introduce measure in support of Columbus Day Bannon's subpoena snub sets up big decision for Biden DOJ MOREs plea to find 11,780 votes, one more than Bidens winning margin.

In 15 other states, 35 bills have passed at least one chamber, making it easier for Republicans to interfere. For example, in Pennsylvania, Florida and Texas, Republicans want audits of the 2020 ballots. Pennsylvania Senate Republicans are demanding 2020 voters driver license information, partial Social Security numbers, changes in voter registration and information about whether ballots were cast by mail or in person. Gov. Tom WolfTom WolfPennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro enters governor's race Four Democratic governors agree to share gun crime data in effort to thwart violence Overnight Health Care Presented by EMAA Biden unravels Trump rule banning clinics from abortion referrals MORE, a Democrat, calls the ploy a sham.

The Freedom to Vote Act guarantees a national right to vote in federal elections. It expands voter registration; sets a minimum number of days and hours for early voting; reduces in-person wait times to no more than 30 minutes; permits postage-free absentee ballots that do not require either witnesses or notarization and will be counted seven days after the election if postmarked by Election Day.

Voters whose signatures are rejected must be notified and allowed to correct the issue. Poll-watchers are restricted in their proximity to those casting ballots, and polling places will be required on college campuses. The bill would curtail partisan gerrymandering and ban any prohibitions on the distribution of food and water to those waiting to vote.

Sen. Joe ManchinJoe ManchinUsing shared principles to guide our global and national energy policy Sinema's office denies report that she wants to cut 0B in climate spending Juan Williams: Women wield the power MORE (D-W.Va.), a key player in the voting rights drama, had this legislation written to his specifications, and all 50 Senate Democrats have voiced their support. Manchin has embarked on a quixotic quest to find 10 Republicans to back it.

But finding enough Republicans to overcome a Senate filibuster is an exercise in futility. Susan CollinsSusan Margaret CollinsBiden signs bill to help victims of 'Havana syndrome' The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - After high drama, Senate lifts debt limit Here are the 11 GOP senators who helped advance the debt extension MORE (R-Maine), a frequent Manchin partner in bipartisanship, has voiced her opposition, saying the law has fundamental problems of federalizing state elections. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats are ignoring the only thing that matters The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by The National Columbus Education Foundation - Positive developments on COVID-19 treatments The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Altria - Political crosscurrents persist for Biden, Dems MORE (R-Ky.) has pronounced the bill all-but-dead: We will not be supporting it. Sen. Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamMost Senate Republicans don't want to see Trump run again Trump heads to Iowa as 2024 chatter grows GOP tries to take filibuster pressure off Manchin, Sinema MOREs (R-S.C.) opposition is even more succinct: Nope.

Once more, obdurate GOP opposition will kill meaningful legislation backed by Manchin, who nevertheless stubbornly clings to his beloved filibuster.

Todays Trump-led Republicans have abandoned the partys historic roots. After the Civil War, Republicans supported federal guarantees to ensure the right of African Americans to cast their ballots. When federal troops left the defeated Confederacy in 1877, Democrats purged Blacks from the voting rolls and voted them out of Congress.

In 1888, Republicans accused President Grover Cleveland and his Democratic congressional majorities of owing their existence to the suppression of the ballot by a criminal nullification of the Constitution and laws of the United States. Benjamin Harrison, who beat Cleveland that year, asked in his inaugural address: How shall those who practice election frauds recover that respect for the sanctity of the ballot which is the first condition and obligation of good citizenship? The man who has come to regard the ballot box as a jugglers hat has renounced his allegiance.

Harrison told Congress that denial of the franchise does not expend itself upon those whose votes are suppressed. Every constituency in the Union is wronged. He later accused those opposed to federal election involvement of racism, saying those animosities ought not to be confessed without shame and cannot be given any weight in the discussion without dishonor.

Donald Trumps 2020 loss magnified many Republicans fear of a future in which whites will soon be a racial minority. A recent poll found 84 percent of Trump voters worry that discrimination against whites will increase significantly in the next few years. Trumps obsession with his 2020 defeat, and his refusal to accept it, has given way to a Republican crusade to reform election laws that may result in disenfranchising enough minority voters to ensure Republican victories.

In a July speech, President Biden called these changes a 21st century Jim Crow assault. In the same address, Biden posed the same question to Republicans that famously dethroned anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-Wis.) back in the 1950s: Have you no shame?

The answer is clear: no. Republicans have shamelessly concluded that winning doesnt necessarily mean garnering the most votes. Instead, its about rigging the system. They are todays new Dixiecrats. Historys discredited Dixiecrats would be proud.

John Kenneth White is a professor of politics at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is What Happened to the Republican Party?

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