The Republican National Committee is suing several states over late counting of mail-in ballots, Fox News reported. The lawsuit includes California, which has not certified all its races nearly four weeks after Election Day.
The Golden State is counting its ballots at a snail's pace in part because of the choice of many citizens to vote by mail. The state said these ballots must be verified individually, explaining the long delay.
However, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley believes this is "absurd" as pivotal races remain uncalled. "It is absurd for California to accept ballots by mail up to 7 days after Election Day and take almost a month to count them," Whatley posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
CALIFORNIA ELECTION INTEGRITY:
Two updates as vote counting in California continues.
1. The RNC and @CAGOP have been on the ground with attorneys and observers across the state throughout the process of voting, curing, and counting.
2. It is absurd for California to accept…
— Michael Whatley (@ChairmanWhatley) November 25, 2024
Whatley has been leading the RNC's mission to rein in this practice, and he shared that RNC and California Republican Party "have been on the ground with attorneys and observers across the state throughout the process of voting, curing, and counting" in California.
In addition, they have "filed lawsuits to stop this and will continue to fight aggressively to force all states to stop accepting ballots after Election Day," Whatley continued in his post. "Every vote in every state matters, and the RNC will work with our state parties and candidates to ensure Election Integrity across the country," he added.
"It is clear that we need real election reforms to Protect the Vote in California," Whatley concluded. Other states also have similarly extended counting long after Election Day.
The GOP slammed Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania after he refused to concede to Dave McCormick for several days. Officials continued counting votes against state law, including some that should be thrown out for missing or incorrect dates on return envelopes.
A similar situation occurred in North Carolina, and the state's Republican Senate leader, Phil Berger, outright alleged fraud as the Democratic challenger picked up an additional 10,000 votes after Election Day. "We’re seeing played out at this point another episode of ‘count until somebody you want to win wins,'" Berger told the media, The Gazette reported.
Despite the obvious problems with universal mail-in balloting and counting votes that should be disqualified, Democrats continue to push for it. In California, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to codify the processs.
California became the first state to require a ballot mailed to every registered voter in the state in 2021. This cemented what was ostensibly a pandemic-era accommodation.
Then, in 2023, Newsom signed a pair of laws that require polling stations to allow for curbside voting and ballot drop-off with immediate counting. Now, President-elect Trump has vowed to secure elections, including making sure only citizens are allowed to vote.
Newsom has responded by making the state "Trump-proof" and will hold a special legislative session on Dec. 2 to do just that. "California is ready to fight. Whether it be our fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, or climate action – we refuse to turn back the clock and allow our values and laws to be attacked," Newsom posted to social media after the election.
Tightening up elections is the only way to ensure the future of true representative government. Without measures to stop the abuses, mistrust in the leaders will only continue.
