It's still a long way to November, but things are already getting interesting. In a recent interview, the chair of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley, announced plans for Republicans to "be in the room" when votes are cast and counted in November. The goal is to prevent any repeat of the controversies that plagued the 2020 election.

Whatley said the RNC is going to “ensure” each state has “good rules of the road” and “thousands” of attorneys present when votes are being cast in November to make sure the ballots are “protected” and the integrity of the election is preserved.

“We want to make sure that every state has good rules of the road, right,” Whatley said in an interview with radio talk show host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable.”

“So we’re working with the legislatures, we’re working with the boards of elections, the secretaries of states to make sure that the laws, the rules, the regulations that cover elections are where we need them to be,” he said. 

The Constitution, it should be noted, places responsibility for the organization and conducting of elections on the state legislatures. Article I, Section 4 states this clearly, except for allowing Congress to pass election law that affects all 50 states. That is, presumably, where the relevant laws, rules, and regulations will be examined and, if necessary, challenged.

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.

In the interview, Mr. Whatley stated that the RNC will have legal representation standing by.

The recently elected chair of the RNC said that if those rules, laws and regulations are not where they want them to be, the committee is going to sue. 

“And if they’re not, we’re going to sue,” Whatley, who was elected with the backing of former President Trump, said during the interview. 

He said he has already filed 80 lawsuits in 24 states to ensure there will be “good, solid” election rules in place. 

Whatley also stated the RNC will have “thousands” of lawyers present when the November votes are being cast and counted. 

The 2024 election is looking to be a testing ground for legal battles that will define how elections are conducted for many years in the future.

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Whatley also weighed in on early voting.

Whatley also said last month the party should communicate with its base about voting before Election Day. But when asked if the party will directly encourage the GOP electorate to vote early, he said “to the degree that we can before they go vote.”

This election is shaping up to be a humdinger. The legal wrangling may result in the outcome not being known for days or even weeks. But this isn't a situation without precedent. And the 2024 election will be interesting for plenty of other reasons, not least of which is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent candidacy, which seems to be slowly gathering steam. RFK Jr. will likely siphon more votes from the Democrat ticket than the Republican, especially as President Biden's mental and physical deterioration becomes more and more apparent. But we're in uncharted territory here, with one candidate (as noted) deteriorating and the other fighting unprecedented legal attacks.

It's still a long time until November.