RNC sues to halt California's late mail-in ballot counting
- The RNC has filed national lawsuits against states allowing the counting of mail-in ballots after Election Day.
- California's election process has been criticized for taking nearly a month to certify results after the election.
- The RNC aims to combat perceived threats to election integrity and advocate for reforms in mail-in voting practices.
In the lead-up to the 2024 election and the ongoing electoral processes in California, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has taken significant legal action, alleging that the counting of mail-in ballots received after Election Day undermines election integrity. Specifically, the RNC has launched national lawsuits targeting various states, with California at the forefront due to its policy of accepting ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but can arrive up to seven days later. RNC Chairman Michael Whatley publicly criticized California's lengthy ballot counting process, which has been extended to nearly a month in some races. He argued that the acceptance of these late ballots is 'absurd' and detrimental to the swift certification of election results. This position reflects a broader concern among Republican leaders about the integrity of the electoral process, especially as many voters in California opted for mail-in voting, leading to an increased volume of ballots. To bolster their claims, the RNC has partnered with local organizations and legal teams in California to monitor the voting and counting processes closely. Key recent legislation has further complicated the situation; California's AB 37 law mandates that all active registered voters automatically receive absentee ballots, previously a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two additional laws passed in 2023 aimed at enhancing voting access have introduced options for curbside voting and immediate drop-off ballot counting, further reinforcing mail-in ballot practices. The wider Republican strategy signals a significant push against extended vote-counting methodologies being adopted in various states, bolstered by similar lawsuits in states like Pennsylvania and North Carolina. As litigation continues, RNC officials maintain that reforms are urgently needed to stabilize voter confidence and election fairness, advocating for changes that could include stricter voter ID laws and limiting mail-in voting to pre-Election Day submissions.