Republicans' Legal Efforts Fail in Key States
As the U.S. presidential elections approach, former President Donald Trump's Republican allies have faced a series of legal defeats in key states. This situation could potentially increase voter turnout and expedite the certification of election results. In the past three weeks, at least 10 court losses have been recorded in these critical states, with another setback occurring on Friday in Virginia.
In Virginia, a federal judge blocked the state's attempt to remove individuals from voter rolls who have not confirmed their citizenship. U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles referenced a federal law that prohibits large-scale voter roll purges within 90 days of an election. Virginia, which is not considered a swing state in this election cycle, plans to appeal the decision.
Among the legal failures are multiple rulings in Georgia where judges halted last-minute changes to election rules. These rulings prevent measures that would require poll workers to manually count votes and attempts to clean up voter rolls or restrict voting for overseas Americans. Legal experts suggest these rulings may facilitate the vote counting and certification processes in Georgia.
In contrast, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday that mail-in ballots in Mississippi must be received by Election Day, invalidating the state's five-day extension. However, this decision does not directly impact swing states.
The Republican efforts, which party members claim are aimed at strengthening election security and preventing fraud, are challenged by Democrats and voting rights groups who accuse them of attempting to suppress votes. Some legal experts believe these cases are doomed to fail and that Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud could undermine the legitimacy of the election.
Despite recent setbacks, the Republican National Committee, through spokesperson Claire Zunk, argues that their legal actions aim to ensure a fair and transparent election. Zunk emphasized the party's commitment to defending every legal vote, noting that a record number of legal initiatives, including some victories since August, have been undertaken.
Legal victories celebrated by Republicans include blocking an extension of the voter registration deadline in Georgia, tightening signature verification measures in Michigan, and preventing the use of digital university IDs as voter identification in North Carolina.
However, failures, particularly in Georgia, have been significant. State court Judge Robert McBurney and Supreme Court Judge Thomas Cox issued rulings against election rule changes supported by Republicans, citing overreach and violation of state law. The Georgia Supreme Court has declined to expedite an appeal of Cox's ruling, meaning the matter will not be resolved until next year.
Other court decisions in Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan have upheld federal laws and adhered to established court precedents that deter last-minute changes to election rules regarding cleaning voter rolls.
With some rulings awaiting appeal, ongoing legal battles could play a critical role in shaping the upcoming election between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5.