In a move seen as part of the GOP's election law strategy, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, demanding the trimming down of the state's voter rolls. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, accuses Michigan of violating the National Voter Registration Act by failing to maintain clean and accurate voter registration rolls.

The RNC's suit claims that at least 53 counties in Michigan have more active registered voters than the number of adult citizens over the age of 18. Additionally, another 23 counties allegedly have active-voter registration rates exceeding 90% of adult citizens over 18, far above national and statewide rates in recent elections.

However, it is important to note that there is no evidence to suggest that bloated voter rolls lead to voter fraud. Despite this lack of evidence, Republicans have increasingly focused on voter rolls as part of their election activism. They argue that ensuring voter roll accuracy is a vital step to maintain the integrity of elections.

Secretary of State Benson defended Michigan's efforts to maintain accurate voter rolls, stating that they have made significant progress over the past five years in removing deceased voters and ineligible citizens. She revealed that more than 700,000 voters have been removed from the rolls since she took office, with another half million set to be removed if they do not vote in this year's general election.

Benson dismissed the RNC's lawsuit as a "PR campaign masquerading as a meritless lawsuit" aimed at undermining public confidence in the security of elections. She expressed her disappointment in anyone who manipulates the legal process to cast doubt on democracy.

The timing of the RNC's lawsuit coincides with the appointment of two prominent election lawyers, Charlie Spies and Christina Bobb, to the committee's ranks. Bobb, known for her advocacy of baseless claims about the 2020 election, will serve as senior counsel for election integrity. Spies, a longtime GOP lawyer, is named as general counsel.

The RNC's move to challenge Michigan's voter rolls highlights the potential importance of voter roll issues in the GOP's election law strategy. It also aligns with the conservative push for changes in election systems to restore confidence among Republicans while still encouraging early voting.

Critics argue that the RNC's lawsuit, coupled with the departure of GOP-led states from the bipartisan voter roll maintenance program known as ERIC, weakens efforts towards maintaining up-to-date and accurate voter rolls.

As the legal battle unfolds, the debate over the integrity of voter rolls and election security continues to shape the political landscape, with both parties aiming to secure their positions ahead of the 2024 elections.