Inside the RNC's legal fight over "election integrity"

Less than two months before the midterms, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is engaged in roughly 200 legal battles across the nation to influence election outcomes. The GOP is not officially participating in all these cases, but they are providing financial support or strategic advice. Among the various efforts, the RNC is aiming to implement stricter voter ID rules in Montana, reduce ballot drop-off locations in Georgia, intensify scrutiny of voter lists in New Jersey and Delaware, and enhance the role of election observers and challengers in other states.

Five RNC officials, speaking to Axios, described the scope of their nationwide "election integrity" initiative, emphasizing the importance of strict law enforcement and preventing noncitizens from registering and voting. Despite critics arguing there is no evidence of systemic or significant voter fraud, the RNC remains focused on these priorities.

The RNC's legal strategy is often opposed by Democratic Party committees and aligned law firms, such as Marc Elias' Elias Law Group. The Democrats argue against Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots, which are used by nearly one-third of U.S. voters, while also challenging the GOP's push to increase requirements for verifying voters' U.S. citizenship.

Critics claim the Republicans' cases are aimed at restricting voting access, but the RNC contends they merely want voting rules to be followed. After the 2020 election, Republicans ramped up their election law enforcement litigation, closing the gap with the Democrats in terms of litigation presence. Since October 2024, the RNC has been involved in 126 cases across 26 states, achieving notable wins like preventing Democrats' congressional redistricting in Virginia, defending state election laws in Texas and Georgia, and enforcing stricter polling place closing times in Wisconsin. Most current litigation is ongoing and likely to impact future elections.