Republican National Committee (RNC) co-chair Lara Trump sparked controversy with her recent comment about the RNC’s plans for the 2024 election. Trump stated that the RNC has “people who can physically handle the ballots” at polling places, raising concerns about potential election interference.
The RNC has pledged to deploy 100,000 volunteers and attorneys as observers at polling sites, but it’s unclear what Trump meant by “physically handle the ballots.” Poll watchers are typically appointed by both political parties to monitor election administration and report any issues to authorities. They are prohibited from interfering with the electoral process in any way.
From 1982 to 2017, the RNC was under a court order limiting Republican poll watcher activity due to allegations of voter intimidation tactics. The consent decree was lifted in 2018.
Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from election experts and Democrats, who fear that the RNC may be planning to interfere in the election. Marc E. Elias, a leading Democratic elections lawyer, commented that poll observers are never permitted to touch ballots and suggested that Trump’s remarks indicate an attempt to infiltrate election offices. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and authoritarianism expert, expressed concern that Trump’s statement could signal a plan to use “thugs” to ensure votes are marked for Republican candidates.
The Trump family and its allies have repeatedly made false claims of election fraud, and have laid the groundwork to potentially challenge the results of the 2024 election if Trump loses. Trump himself faces criminal charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and is currently on trial in New York for allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payments that could have influenced the 2016 election outcome.
