In a bid to question the legitimacy of voter registrations across the country, conservative groups have embarked on a systematic campaign ahead of the presidential election. This strategy, which forms part of a broader effort to raise doubts about the integrity of the election, has gained traction as former President Donald Trump continues to make unsubstantiated claims of election fraud by his opponents.

Various tactics are being employed by these conservative groups to challenge voter rolls. These include mass door-knocking campaigns, the utilization of special software designed to identify potentially ineligible voters, and a surge in lawsuits. Some of these legal challenges have been initiated by the Republican National Committee itself, which is set to host the GOP's national convention in the coming week.

Republican secretaries of state in states such as Ohio and Tennessee are independently examining voter lists and adopting aggressive new state voting laws to comply with the reviews. While proponents of these efforts assert that they aim to improve the accuracy of voter rolls, voting rights groups and Democrats argue that their true goal is to undermine confidence in the election results and lay the groundwork for future legal challenges.

State-level initiatives, such as Michigan's "Soles to the Rolls" and Nevada's Pigpen Project, have emerged, where volunteers are actively searching for flaws in state voter rolls. Their findings have raised concerns, such as the registration of deceased individuals, non-U.S. citizens, or individuals listed at outdated addresses, potentially indicating the risk of double voting. Conservative activists identify these questionable records and report them to local or state election offices for potential removal.

Earlier this year, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democrat, intervened to reinstate the registrations of approximately 1,000 individuals who had been erroneously removed through one such effort, after it was highlighted by The New York Times. However, critics argue that these challenges often overlook the complexities and legal requirements associated with maintaining voter rolls.

The National Voter Registration Act already mandates states to actively maintain accurate and up-to-date voter registration lists. It is important to note that the discovery of outdated registrations does not necessarily mean that election officials are unaware of them. Voter registration lists are dynamic databases, subject to constant updates due to factors such as address changes, deaths, and name changes. Registration activities and list maintenance occur continuously.

Conservative groups leading the charge on voter roll reviews have submitted hundreds of public records requests nationwide, seeking access to voter files. A significant portion of these disputes has already landed in the courts. One of their objectives is to create public databases that enable individuals to scrutinize and question the eligibility of specific voters on state rolls.

The Public Interest Legal Foundation, helmed by conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell, has spearheaded challenges across Colorado, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. Mitchell gained notoriety for her involvement in the controversial phone call where Trump asked Georgia's secretary of state to find him the votes needed to win the state in 2020. Other groups have also filed lawsuits in Arizona, California, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

In Georgia, an Associated Press survey of the state's 40 largest counties revealed that over the past two years, more than 18,000 voters have faced challenges, despite the majority of them being rejected by local election offices.

Many of these volunteer groups have received encouragement and guidance from MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a prominent ally of Trump known for promoting election conspiracy theories. They have also utilized tools such as EagleAI Network, a data-matching software program developed for the Election Integrity Network, which compiles voter lists using change-of-address forms, criminal justice records, and property tax data.

Additionally, the Public Interest Legal Foundation has filed a lawsuit against the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a voluntary system that facilitates the sharing of data among states to maintain accurate voter lists. The lawsuit sought access to information that member states had pledged to keep private. According to J. Christian Adams, the foundation's president and general counsel, their efforts have not resulted in the removal of any eligible voters from the rolls. He refutes critics' claims, dismissing them as paranoid, and emphasizes the importance of accurate voter lists, particularly in states employing universal mail-in ballots.

As a result of election conspiracy theories, at least nine Republican-led states have withdrawn from ERIC, thereby compromising the system's ability to verify voter records across state lines. Supporters of ERIC highlight the irony of Republican states opting out, given that it is the only national system that aids in identifying voters who are ineligible to cast a ballot.

In addition to the conservative groups, the Republican National Committee, under the leadership of Donald Trump, has also actively participated in challenging voter rolls ahead of the forthcoming election.