The Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed a lawsuit in Michigan aimed at overturning a state law that facilitates voting access for U.S. citizens residing abroad. This marks the RNC's second attempt in two years to challenge the voting rights of overseas citizens. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate provisions that allow U.S. citizens to inherit voting rights through their parents and use their parents' last Michigan address for voting purposes.

RNC Chair Joe Gruters contends that individuals who have never lived in the United States should not participate in Michigan elections, asserting that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is violating the Michigan Constitution by allowing non-residents to vote. The RNC's complaint requests that the court eliminate voting access for all overseas voters who have never resided in Michigan, which could disenfranchise thousands of eligible voters by the summer of 2026, just before Michigan's overseas ballots are distributed for the August primary.

The lawsuit is framed as a partisan issue, with the RNC claiming that overseas voting disadvantages Republican candidates due to the historical voting patterns of overseas voters, who tend to favor Democratic candidates. Notably, the RNC does not allege any instances of fraud or threats to election security, which are common themes in Republican critiques of voting access. Instead, the focus is on the perceived electoral disadvantage posed by overseas voter participation.

This legal action is part of a broader Republican strategy to restrict overseas voting rights, which has gained momentum since 2020. Various Republican lawmakers and organizations have pursued legal actions and proposed legislation aimed at dismantling established voting protections for Americans living abroad. In March 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order seeking to impose stricter requirements on overseas voting, although many provisions were subsequently blocked by the courts.

In a separate development, a federal lawsuit in Missouri alleges that 28 employees were financially incentivized by four consulting firms to cease gathering signatures for a petition aimed at overturning the state's new congressional map. Some individuals reportedly received offers as high as $30,000 to halt their signature collection efforts. The petition seeks to place the new congressional map on the ballot for the November 2026 general election, requiring signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts by December 11.

The new map, signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe, is designed to alter Missouri's representation in the U.S. House, potentially resulting in an additional Republican seat. It notably divides Kansas City into three separate districts and is currently facing multiple legal challenges. Richard von Glahn, Director of People Not Politicians, expressed concerns that these actions reflect Republican apprehension regarding the potential voter response to the map and criticized the involvement of out-of-state firms.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has announced an investigation into the petition campaign, focusing on allegations of out-of-state influence and scrutinizing Advanced Micro Targeting, the company assisting with signature collection. Hanaway has claimed that the group is employing non-citizens in this effort, labeling it as an attempt to undermine Missouri's constitutional processes. This situation underscores ongoing tensions surrounding electoral representation and the influence of external entities in local political processes.