RNC files lawsuit against Virginia regarding ballots submitted by non-resident voters

RNC Files Lawsuit Against Virginia Over Voting Laws

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has initiated a lawsuit against Virginia, claiming that the state’s acceptance of votes from individuals who have never resided there contravenes state law.

Under federal laws, military members and their spouses stationed abroad are permitted to cast absentee ballots based on their last state of residence. However, Virginia law allows those who have never lived in the state to vote if their parents’ last voting location was in Virginia.

Allie Triolo, the RNC’s Director of Election Integrity Communications, expressed, “The Virginia Constitution clearly states that proof of residency is required to vote in Virginia elections. Our aim at the RNC is to ensure that voting in Virginia is genuinely reserved for Virginians and to close the loopholes that allow people without any ties to the state to register.”

The RNC, along with RITE PAC and conservative activist Matthew Hart, filed for an injunction against the Virginia State Board of Elections and the Department of Elections in Richmond’s Circuit Court on Monday.

Republican Chairman Gruters commented, “If you’ve never lived in Virginia—or even the U.S.—you shouldn’t be voting here. Virginia officials are disregarding the state constitution and allowing ineligible voters to participate. The RNC and RITE PAC are taking steps to enforce the law.”

Hart, who leads the Arlington Republican Committee, shared an email with the committee outlining his reasons for joining the lawsuit. He stated, “This lawsuit seeks a declaration that the relevant statute is unconstitutional and demands that election officials enforce residency requirements in voting.”

The lawsuit also implicates seven officials, including Fairfax County General Registrar Eric Spicer. Previously, Fairfax Republican Chairman Steve Knotts lauded Spicer for efforts to boost electoral integrity.

According to the complaint, “Defendant Spicer registered voters who claimed on their forms that they were ‘U.S. citizens living abroad and have never lived in the United States,’ which is against the Virginia Constitution.”

The RNC has pursued similar legal actions against other states like Michigan, Arizona, and North Carolina over the counting of nonresident votes. Notably, in April 2025, North Carolina’s Court of Appeals sided with the RNC, asserting that the state election board broke the law by accepting voters without state residency. Although officials sought to appeal to the state Supreme Court, the case was dismissed.

Toriolo said, “We’ve handled similar cases in North Carolina and succeeded. We’re determined to prevent any form of election manipulation to ensure that voters have access to fair, secure elections. We are confident in our existing victories and anticipate more in the future.”

According to Toriolo, the RNC has filed over 120 lawsuits nationwide aiming to close loopholes and bolster election integrity.

He remarked, “The RNC is fighting hard to secure the integrity of the ballot box, a top priority for us, ensuring that elections are fair, transparent, and secure.”