By S.A. McCarthy

Following President Donald Trump’s sweeping victory in November’s presidential election, Republicans are still pursuing election integrity measures to ensure that midterm and future presidential elections are conducted fairly and squarely. Courts have handed a series of election integrity wins to the Republican National Committee (RNC) recently, including in swing states Arizona and Georgia.

The RNC filed a lawsuit last year challenging rule changes made in 2023 by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) to the state’s Election Procedures Manual. The RNC argued that the rule changes diluted safeguards preventing noncitizens from voting, placed unlawful restrictions on challenges to early voting ballots, and even violated state law. Earlier this month, an Arizona Court of Appeals agreed with the RNC and ruled that Fontes failed to “substantially comply” with the state’s laws and rule-making process.

In Georgia, a federal court sided with the RNC in another election integrity lawsuit. A union representing theater workers sued Georgia state election officials and the RNC last year in an effort to expand the deadline for submitting absentee ballots by mail. The RNC skewered the union’s lawsuit, noting that the union lacks standing to sue, does not demonstrate irreparable harm, and cannot link any hypothetical harm to Georgia’s election officials or the RNC. Additionally, the RNC pointed out that once the deadline for absentee-by-mail ballots expires, Georgians can still submit absentee-in-person ballots ahead of Election Day. Earlier this month, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia dismissed the case, citing a lack of standing on the part of the union.

In another election integrity success, Washington’s state Supreme Court ruled in favor of the RNC and state Republicans in a case concerning signature verification. In a brief filed in 2023, the RNC observed that Washington’s voting process allows voters numerous opportunities to correct mistakes such as incorrect or illegible signatures on mail-in ballots but, because errors sometimes still persist that would classify incorrectly signed mail-in ballots as invalid, a handful of left-wing organizations had sued to eliminate the state’s signature verification requirements for mail-in ballots. Washington’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled earlier this month that the state’s signature verification process is constitutional and will therefore be upheld.

Ahead of November’s historic presidential election, the RNC filed hundreds of lawsuits across the country, seeking to ensure election integrity and thwart activists’ efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the election. Victories in states including Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin resulted in noncitizens being purged from voter rolls, ballot counting being carried out instead of paused and resumed the following day, and Republican poll-watchers being returned to polling places after having been kicked out.

In comments to The Washington Stand, FRC Action Director Matt Carpenter said, “It’s great to see election integrity continue to gain steam. With Republicans in control of Congress and the White House, there was a real possibility that complacency would set in and securing the vote would be forgotten. Fortunately, that’s not the case.” He continued, “The RNC and red states have been active on this issue, and it’s not just good policy: politically, it’s a winner as well. Voters overwhelmingly agree noncitizens should not be allowed to vote, unmonitored drop boxes are a problem, voter identification requirements are good, and we should be able to expect election results quickly.”

In addition to the RNC’s efforts, a number of Republican state officials have been working to bolster election integrity at the state and local levels. In West Virginia, for example, the Republican-led state legislature has introduced nearly 100 election integrity bills this legislative session alone, including measures designed to prevent noncitizens from illegally voting and to clear noncitizens, felons, and deceased people from voter rolls.

On April 1, voters in Wisconsin will also cast their ballots for or against a constitutional amendment legally requiring voter identification be presented when voting. While Democrats and progressive activists have long claimed that voter I.D. requirements disenfranchise voters or stifle voter turnout, a recent report from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty shows that voter I.D. requirements actually have no adverse impact on voter turnout.

Carpenter commented, “Ultimately, the reason election integrity is so important is because it improves the legitimacy of the republic. When our election laws are fair and implemented properly, voters can trust in the results. If voters can trust the results, they can be assured the government is legitimate.” He added, “Even if their side lost, they at least know the election system did its job.” Carpenter further stated, “We all have a stake in ensuring our elections make it easy to vote, but hard to cheat. The time to make progress on election integrity is now.”

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.