Staff Reports
In a bold move that has ruffled the feathers of the election integrity crowd, the Republican National Committee has taken it upon itself to launch an ambitious investigation into voter registration lists across the nation. This is not just a run-of-the-mill audit – it’s a full-fledged effort to ensure that only eligible voters are participating in elections, and to shine a light on the often murky waters of voter roll maintenance.
The RNC has sent out public records requests to election officials in 48 states and the District of Columbia, demanding documentation that proves states are actively taking steps to purge ineligible individuals from their voter rolls. This includes those who have kicked the bucket and non-citizens still hanging around like bad guests at a party. The message is clear: the American public deserves to know how diligently their states are working to keep their electoral processes clean.
This campaign coincides nicely with President Trump’s executive order pushing for significant reforms in U.S. elections, notably the requirement for proof of citizenship for registering to vote in federal elections. Amidst all this, the misinformation narrative surrounding non-citizens and deceased voters finding their way into polling places continues. The fact is, actual cases of this happening are rarer than a snowstorm in July, and election officials do tend to catch and prosecute these oddities when they occur.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley made it abundantly clear that voters have every right to expect their states to be on top of the game when it comes to maintaining voter rolls and removing those who shouldn’t be there. In reality, the National Voter Registration Act mandates that states keep their voter registration lists accurate and up to date, but as with many government mandates, compliance varies.
The Republican National Committee on Tuesday launched a massive effort to probe voter registration lists nationwide amid a broader strategy to seize on voter rolls to question the integrity of elections. https://t.co/YvTbL8HZYW
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 26, 2025
Since the 2020 election debacle, conservative activists have capitalized on claims of rampant fraud to justify their intense scrutiny of election officials. This surge in interest has led county election offices to be swamped with public records requests, often just when they’re knee-deep in preparing for upcoming elections. These requests, often perceived as burdensome by local election officials, have led to a growing sentiment that they’re more of a hindrance than a help.
Despite the repetitive claims of mass fraud, it’s worth noting that states have various robust means to sift through voter registrations to identify those who have passed away or moved. Procedures include scanning death certificates and court records, keeping voter lists as sharp as a well-honed knife. Furthermore, 24 states participate in a bipartisan initiative to ensure their voter lists are accurate through collaboration, although nine GOP-led states have walked away from the Electronic Registration Information Center due to concerns over its transparency and funding.
In a world where distractions abound and misinformation reigns, the RNC’s latest initiative stands as a reminder of the importance of election integrity. With over 8.2 million voter records flagged as potentially outdated, there’s a pressing need to take a hard look at who’s voting and whether they should be. The silent majority is watching, and they’ve had enough of the shenanigans.
