Internet accuses GOP of 'voter suppression' after Nevada sued for counting late mail-in ballots

CARSON CITY, NEVADA: The Republican Party filed a lawsuit to prevent Nevada from accepting mail ballots after Election Day, despite the current state law that allows it.

The plaintiffs of the lawsuit filed on May 3 at the US District Court of Nevada include former President Donald Trump's campaign, the Republican National Committee, the Nevada State Republican Party, and a Clark County registered voter, according to 2 News Nevada.

The lawsuit claimed the state's election officials would count ballots "that lack a postmark and are received on or before 5 pm on November 8, 2024," and "by holding voting open beyond the federal Election Day, Nevada violates federal law and harms plaintiffs." It mentioned the names of the Nevada Secretary of State, registrar of voters, and clerks of Washoe and Clark County.

The 2021 law passed by Democrats currently allows for the receipt of mail ballots until four days after Election Day, given that the envelopes are postmarked before the day's end.

RNC says Nevada's ballot receipt deadline 'violates federal law'

"Nevada's ballot receipt deadline clearly violates federal law and undermines election integrity in the state. Ballots received days after Election Day should not be counted," said RNC co-chair Michael Whatley, adding the lawsuit was to "secure an honest election, support Nevada voters, and oppose unlawful schemes."

Meanwhile, the RNC claimed that the existing procedure of counting ballots with "unreadable" postmarks extending to three days post-Election Day, compromised election integrity by unlawfully prolonging the election beyond the Congress-mandated Election Day. They hoped that a win could have a substantial effect on future elections in Nevada and the entire country.

The lawsuit claimed that the late-arriving ballots were "not valid." Therefore, "counting them dilutes the weight of timely, valid ballots....Dilution of honest votes, to any degree, by the casting of fraudulent or illegitimate votes violates the right to vote." It also said the Nevada GOP represents over 550,000 registered Republicans in the Silver State.

This is the 83rd election-related lawsuit filed by the Republicans ahead of the November 5 Election Day, followed by similar ones in Mississippi and North Dakota, as per the Associated Press. 

"I hope the RNC is putting as much time and energy into educating voters on how to participate in elections as they put into suing the state of Nevada," Democratic Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar denounced the Republican move in a statement.

Internet accuses GOP of 'more voter suppression' 

The internet lashed out at the Republican Party's latest move against mail-in ballots amid the general election race between Trump and Joe Biden.

One user wrote, "That’s absurd!." Meanwhile, another called the move "More voting suppression."

"Can't win fairly , CHEAT . The republican way!" a third user added. A fourth response read, "The republicans are so Anti-American!"

Another user argued, "the RNC is the very definition of 'reprehensible' . ."

Someone else demanded, "Rethuglicans need to stop this behavior!" An individual remarked, "Republicans can’t win so they need to use voter intimidation and suppression."

"That is stupid. Their request is contrary to the law," another user wrote.

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.