Colby Itkowitz, a Democracy reporter for The Washington Post, unpacks the Republican Party's intricate legal battles over mail-in voting. She discusses how their efforts to disqualify these ballots may backfire and evidence suggests they actually benefit from mail-in voting. Itkowitz explores the contradictory stance within the GOP — promoting mail-in ballots while simultaneously trying to complicate the voting process. The conversation also highlights concerns over disenfranchisement and the implications of these strategies for upcoming elections.
Republicans are engaged in legal battles against mail-in voting, perceiving it as a strategy to diminish Democratic voter turnout.
Despite promoting mail-in voting to their supporters, the GOP's legal actions create contradictions that hinder broader voter mobilization efforts.
Deep dives
Trump's Conflicting Stance on Mail-in Voting
In a video released in 2020, Donald Trump expressed support for absentee voting while simultaneously criticizing universal mail-in ballots, claiming they could lead to voter fraud. This apparent contradiction highlights a broader conversation surrounding mail-in voting, as Trump labeled absentee ballots as 'good' but warned against the potential dangers of mass mail-in voting. The legal implications of his rhetoric have become evident, as Republicans have pursued numerous lawsuits across various states challenging mail-in voting practices. This strategy suggests a tactical approach to potentially diminish Democratic voter turnout, as Republicans perceive mail-in ballots to favor Democratic voters.
Legal Challenges Impacting Voter Participation
Republicans have initiated legal battles focusing on specific technicalities in mail-in ballots, such as signature mismatches and undated envelopes. In Pennsylvania, for example, voters who fail to properly date their ballot envelopes risk having their votes disqualified, raising concerns about disenfranchisement. These court challenges could significantly affect voter turnout, particularly in swing states where elections are often decided by narrow margins. Critics argue that these technical obstacles disproportionately impact lower-income and less experienced voters, thus undermining the democratic process.
Shift in Voting Trends Among Party Affiliations
Historically, mail-in voting was embraced by both parties, but since 2020, a noticeable shift has occurred where Democrats are more likely to utilize mail-in ballots compared to Republicans. Trump’s skepticism regarding mail-in voting has influenced the Republican base, leading to a resurgence in traditional voting practices on Election Day among his supporters. However, recognizing this trend, some Republicans have started to encourage their voters to consider mail-in and early voting options as well. This contrasting stance within the party demonstrates an ongoing struggle to adapt strategies in light of changing voting behaviors.
Contradictions within GOP Messaging on Voting
The Republican National Committee (RNC) faces a contradiction where they promote the necessity of mail-in voting for maximizing turnout while also engaging in legal actions that could restrict it. Despite efforts to mobilize voters through initiatives promoting early and absentee voting, Trump’s continued disparagement of mail-in ballots complicates the party's efforts. This duality presents challenges for the RNC, as voter engagement strategies may conflict with the prevailing narrative on election integrity. The internal divide reflects broader complexities as the party grapples with ensuring both voter mobilization and adhering to legal challenges surrounding mail-in voting.
On today’s “Post Reports,” we look into why Republicans are waging legal battles to disqualify mail-in ballots, and why rhetoric against mail voting might actually hurt their presidential candidate.
From Wisconsin to North Carolina to Nevada, Republicans say much of their litigation is aimed at enforcement of election law, down to the letter. But critics see a strategy that has nothing to do with election integrity — and everything to do with disqualifying voters who cast ballots by mail, an overwhelming majority of whom support Democrats.
On today’s “Post Reports,” Elahe Izadi speaks with democracy reporter Colby Itkowitz about Republicans’ efforts to get mail-in ballots thrown out in Pennsylvania, and about the have-it-both-ways strategy they’re employing in this election.
And we hear from an election official in Pennsylvania’s Lycoming County — a GOP-leaning area in the center of the state — who’s sick of the fighting.
Today’s show was produced by Rennie Svirnovskiy, with help from Sabby Robinson and Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Reena Flores and mixed by Sean Carter. Thank you to Griff Witte and HyoJung Kim.