The Republican National Committee and Donald Trump’s campaign announced plans to mobilize over 100,000 volunteers and lawyers across battleground states as “election integrity” monitors for the 2024 election.
The RNC said this would be the largest election monitoring effort in history.
“Every ballot. Every precinct. Every processing center. Every county. Every battleground state. We will be there,” RNC Co-Chair Lara Trump said.
Volunteers would observe polling sites, ballot counting, and conduct litigation related to voting machines, mail ballots, and recounts.
The goal was to “preserve the sanctity of elections.”
Trump backed the effort, claiming Republicans need to ensure ballot counting is accurate.
“The RNC is hiring hundreds of election integrity staff across the map – more than ever before because our Party will be recruiting thousands of more observers to protect the vote in 2024. These campaign officials in states are tasked with recruiting, training, and when possible, shifting poll watchers and poll workers day in and day out,” Lara said.
“Having the right people to count the ballots is just as important as turning out voters on Election Day,” she said. “Republicans are now working together to protect the vote and ensure a big win on November 5th!”
Democrats criticized the plans as a potential massive voter suppression operation.
“Election integrity is the foundation of our democracy,” RNC Chair Michael Whatley said. “Through this unprecedented program, we are mobilizing lawyers and volunteers who are committed to preserving the sanctity of our elections.”
“I think they are going to have a massive voter suppression operation and it is going to involve very, very large numbers of people and very, very large numbers of lawyers,” Democrat election lawyer Marc Elias said. “I think we need to take the RNC literally and seriously — except on their numbers.”
While the RNC said election integrity is crucial for democracy, their monitoring has already drawn lawsuits in some states.
Current polls show Trump slightly ahead of Biden on average.
