'Desperate move': Internet slams RNC for suing Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over state's voter rolls

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN: The Republican National Committee initiated a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, aiming to compel state election officials to decrease the voter rolls, reported NBC News.

In the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, March 13, at the District Court for the Western District of Michigan, RNC accused the Great Lakes State of violating the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) requirement to keep clean voter registration rolls.

The RNC lawsuit came around a week after a new leadership backed by former President Donald Trump took over. Michael Whatley and the ex-president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump were elected as new co-chairs on March 8, replacing former chair Ronna McDaniel.

RNC's lawsuit against Michigan

"At least 53 Michigan counties have more active registered voters than they have adult citizens who are over the age of 18. That number of voters is impossibly high," the lawsuit argued.

"An additional 23 counties have active-voter registration rates that exceed 90 percent of adult citizens over the age of 18. That figure far eclipses the national and statewide voter registration rate in recent elections."

The RNC further claimed that it was not the first time Michigan "failed to abide" by the requirements of the NVRA, citing a failed lawsuit filed in 2020 against the state's election officials for violating the act's requirements.

The NVRA, also known as the 'motor voter law', requires "States to conduct a general voter registration list maintenance program" to remove ineligible people from the voter rolls for reasons including death or a change in jurisdiction or state.

Jocelyn Benson labels RNC move a 'PR campaign'

Responding to the RNC lawsuit, Benson defended Michigan's election officials in a statement to NBC News. She claimed they have "done more in the last five years than was done in the previous two decades to remove deceased voters and ineligible citizens from our voting rolls and ensure their accuracy."

She said more than 700,000 voters have been removed since she took charge in 2019.

"Let's call this what it is: a PR campaign masquerading as a meritless lawsuit filled with baseless accusations that seek to diminish people's faith in the security of our elections. Shame on anyone who abuses the legal process to sow seeds of doubt in our democracy," Benson said.

Michigan, which President Joe Biden won in 2020, is a crucial battleground state in the November election.

Trump and Biden are set to come face to face in a rematch after securing party nominations following the primary victories on March 12.

Internet blasts RNC

Outraged at the "desperate" move, netizens lashed out at the RNC, accusing them of attempting to establish a rigged narrative reminiscent of the 2020 election.

One user wrote, "Desperate move by losers."

"They know they’re going to lose, so they’re laying the “IT WAS RIGGED?!111” groundwork now. Pathetic as usual," another user remarked.

One user added, "The Republikan Party spends more of its time being activists instead of legislators. Then they wonder WHY they can no longer win national elections."

"Pretty sure that that would make it to their Supreme Court. GOP are horrible and they want to break every single voter," a response read.

Someone else wrote, "RNC/GQP have no integrity."

"This has nothing to do with violating anything. This has everything to do with setting up a rigged narrative. Our elections were trusted and secure before Donald John Trump lost. No, he didn't uncover some massive secret. He's just a big whiny baby who can't take losing," another individual opined.

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.