The recently appointed chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) emphasized the importance of reaching out to voters who choose to cast their ballots before Election Day, despite the criticisms of mail-in voting by former President Trump.
“Look, in every state there are various different rules, but writ large people can vote by mail, they can vote early in person or they can vote on Election Day,” the new chair, Michael Whatley said during a recent Fox News appearance.
“We want to make sure that people have a plan on how they are going to go out and vote. Over 50 percent of American voters will vote before Election Day. We need to make sure that we are communicating with them, that we are talking to them before they go vote.” he continued.
When questioned about whether the party will actively promote early voting among Republicans, Whatley avoided giving a direct answer.
In a letter addressed to RNC members, Whatley announced plans to improve programs related to early voting, legal ballot harvesting, and mail-in programs.
The party is also introducing a “Grow the Vote” initiative targeting low-propensity voters.
Historically, Democrats have had a stronger track record than Republicans when it comes to encouraging voters to cast their ballots early through in-person voting and mail-in voting prior to Election Day.
The party’s focus on investments in mail-in balloting and early voting aligns with Trump’s longstanding claims of fraud in mail voting.
He raised concerns about the integrity of the 2020 election due to the increased use of mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.
Additionally, he has consistently expressed doubts about the reliability of mail-in voting at recent rallies.
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