Republicans justify their plan to block sweeping voting rights legislation in the Senate this week by arguing that it's a huge federal power grab. But their past words and actions suggest they are again prioritizing their own political advantage over defending democracy.

It is perfectly valid for Republicans to raise objections to the For the People Act, since it questions the fairness and efficacy of greater federal oversight over state election processes. Yet the sincerity of Republican opposition is called into question by the actions of GOP state legislators who are actively undermining US democracy. Claims of vast voter fraud in 2020 -- which Republicans say justifies restrictive voting bills from Florida to Texas and Arizona to Michigan -- are false. And past statements from GOP leaders, including Trump, that allowing more people to vote will make it harder for Republicans to ever win power reveals a more genuine rationale for GOP opposition.

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