Republican Party Plans Unprecedented Election Day Army of Poll Workers

National and state Republican Party officials are gradually ramping up recruitment and plans for what they claim will be an “unprecedented” Election Day army of 100,000 poll workers, monitors, and lawyers. This effort aims to bolster election integrity, a key issue for former President Donald Trump and the GOP ahead of the 2024 vote.

Recruitment and Training Initiatives

An official from the Republican National Committee (RNC) revealed to NBC News that the organization has already recruited “tens of thousands” of individuals for these roles and has hired paid election integrity directors in 13 states, including crucial battlegrounds, to oversee the volunteers. Weekly training sessions are currently underway as part of the party’s comprehensive strategy to ensure what they perceive as election integrity.

However, details on these plans have been sparse. Critics argue that the goal of a 100,000-person force to combat the fictional threat of widespread voter fraud is overly ambitious. State and national Republican officials have repeatedly declined to provide specifics on recruitment, training activities, and deployment plans.

The officials confirmed that the 100,000 figure is an objective for their national force. They are recruiting volunteers through local party organizations and the RNC-run website Protectthevote.com. An RNC official emphasized the focus on increasing the number of volunteers in seven battleground states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina. Interested supporters are being directed to local election officials to ensure more Republicans are involved in working the polls and counting ballots.

Legal and Regulatory Actions

A handful of states, including Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Virginia, have poll worker parity requirements, mandating that officials hire equal numbers from both parties. The RNC has filed complaints and lawsuits in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada to ensure more Republicans are working the polls.

“Our unprecedented effort is in full swing for the primaries and continues to ramp up for November 5th. Every American deserves a system where it is easy to vote and hard to cheat, and our team will ensure every vote is counted legally and fairly,” stated Gineen Bresso, the election integrity director for the RNC and the Trump campaign.

Skepticism and Criticism

Democrats with experience in voter protection efforts have expressed skepticism about the RNC’s claims, doubting the feasibility of recruiting such a large number of volunteers. Justin Levitt, a law professor and former democracy adviser for President Joe Biden’s White House, noted, “Every two years, we see a different fictional number, and every two years, the actual number of people that show up is nowhere close.” Levitt, who ran the voter protection campaign for Barack Obama’s 2008 bid, argued it would be challenging to recruit people to monitor for voter fraud, as it is exceedingly rare.

Escalating Efforts Post-Trump Nomination

After Trump secured the Republican presidential nomination in March, the RNC’s election integrity initiatives intensified. The party launched lawsuits arguing that voter rolls in certain swing states were bloated and bolstered their legal teams. In April, the RNC vowed to deploy an army of supporters on Election Day to “protect the vote and ensure a big win” in November. The RNC also announced the establishment of a full-time, permanent Election Integrity Department, focused on defending election restrictions like voter ID laws implemented by Republican legislatures in recent years.

Recruitment Progress and Challenges

Republican officials in the targeted battleground states have provided limited information on recruitment progress and specific duties for volunteers. In Wisconsin, state GOP Chairman Brian Schimming indicated volunteers would likely serve as poll workers, poll monitors, and drop box monitors if the state Supreme Court expands their use. Schimming expects “thousands” of poll workers and poll watchers, and “hundreds” of attorneys to be in place by early voting.

Victoria LaCivita, a spokesperson for the coordinated Trump campaign in Michigan, stated that GOP officials are “recruiting nationwide” for volunteer roles, with daily efforts to recruit and train individuals. However, she declined to provide specific recruitment numbers.

North Carolina GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer asserted the state party’s commitment to building on election integrity efforts from previous elections, ensuring safe, secure, fair, and transparent elections. Yet, when pressed for details on recruiting and logistics, North Carolina GOP officials withheld specifics, citing proprietary information.

Legal Battles and Election Litigation

Republican officials pointed to a growing number of election-related lawsuits as part of their broader effort. In March, the Nevada Republican Party and the RNC jointly filed a suit alleging that the state’s voter rolls were “inflated” and that the Secretary of State was not maintaining the voter registration lists properly. The RNC and Michigan Republican Party filed similar suits, challenging voter rolls and signature verification practices for absentee ballots.

In North Carolina, the state GOP and the RNC sued for stricter rules on accepting mail ballots and the forms of identification required, in line with the state’s voter ID laws.

Conclusion

As the 2024 election approaches, the Republican Party’s ambitious plan to deploy an unprecedented number of poll workers, monitors, and lawyers reflects a significant escalation in their focus on election integrity. While the feasibility and impact of these efforts remain to be seen, the initiative underscores the party’s commitment to addressing voter fraud concerns, despite skepticism and criticism from various quarters. The outcome of these efforts will likely influence the electoral landscape and the conduct of the upcoming election.