Republican leaders are encouraging their supporters to vote by mail in this year’s presidential election, despite pursuing lawsuits and legislation that could hinder the counting of those votes. The Republican National Committee and the Mississippi Republican Party are challenging Mississippi's practice of accepting absentee ballots up to five days after the election. In Pennsylvania, the GOP has contested counting absentee ballots missing a date. They are also involved in cases in Ohio, Georgia, and Florida defending restrictions on ballot drop boxes.
Despite these legal challenges, the GOP is promoting a campaign called “Bank Your Vote” to urge Republicans to vote early, either in person or by mail. This strategy aims to offset the Democrats' advantage in mail-in voting while addressing President Trump's concerns about mail-in voting. Trump has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that mail-in voting leads to election corruption.
The Republican National Committee, under new leadership, is taking an aggressive approach to election litigation. They are challenging various election rules, advocating for broader use of identification to vote, and ensuring voter rolls are up to date. The party is also recruiting poll watchers and workers to monitor election activities.
While the GOP has engaged in numerous election-related cases, they are facing criticism for overinflating their legal footprint. The party is both challenging voting policies they deem unfair and defending election rules passed by GOP legislatures.
Republican lawsuits extend beyond battleground states, targeting issues like mail voting, voter ID, and non-citizen voting. Recent polling shows a decline in Republican support for mail-in voting, contrasting with Democrats' consistent backing of the method.
The GOP's legal battles reflect a growing trend of increased spending on election litigation across party lines. The party's focus on election integrity and security underscores their commitment to monitoring voting procedures and ensuring a fair electoral process.
