Republicans have challenged some states’ policies that allow mail-in ballots postmarked on or before Election Day to be counted after Election Day, arguing that such measures “threaten the integrity of the election.”
about 20 states and Washington, D.C.According to NPR, the Republican National Committee (RNC) and “others,” who are making room to accept late ballots due to postal issues or for people who forget to vote until Election Day, have filed lawsuits in Nevada, Illinois, Mississippi, and North Dakota to prevent this, but all of the lawsuits except the Illinois one have already been dismissed by judges.
He argued that the decision to end a federal election should be made by Congress, not the states. Claire Zank, the RNC’s election integrity communications director, told the outlet, “The election should be concluded on Election Day. That’s the law, and voters are entitled to fair and accurate results on November 5th.”
“Counting ballots that arrive after Election Day in Mississippi and other states compromises election security and transparency for voters,” she added.
Judge Louis Guirola ruled against Republican plaintiffs in the Mississippi lawsuit, who argued that the Legislature had considered counting some of the late votes.
“Where a federal law implicitly permits post-election receipt of overseas ballots mailed before Election Day, that law is presumed not to violate the Election Day Act,” Guirola wrote. “From there, it can be inferred that a similar Mississippi law regarding post-election receipt is likewise not violated.”
Recently, the Republican National Committee appealed a Mississippi case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, known as the most conservative appellate court in the country.
Zank said the committee also plans to appeal the Nevada case, which is especially important because it’s a battleground state.
“Instead of taking our case to court, a liberal judge wrongfully dismissed our lawsuit,” an election integrity activist told NPR. “Political parties should have the right to challenge invalid election laws that threaten the integrity of our elections.”
This incident Republican National Committee v. WetzelNo. 1:24-cv-37 (Consolidated Cases) in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
