Repub­li­cans work to square elec­tion integri­ty with new ear­ly vot­ing push

Repub­li­cans across the coun­try are look­ing to snag wins in state and fed­er­al elec­tions in 2023 and 2024, and they’re embrac­ing ear­ly and absen­tee vot­ing like nev­er before to do it.
But the par­ty’s base also becomes increas­ing­ly skep­ti­cal of elec­tion secu­ri­ty and results, name­ly the 2020 pres­i­den­tial elec­tion, lead­ing to inten­si­fy­ing calls for “elec­tion integri­ty.”
COURT CHALLENGES TO KEEP TRUMP OFF 2024 ELECTION BALLOTS BEGIN IN TWO STATES
The two goals can appear com­pet­ing, as Repub­li­cans have crit­i­cized vote by mail and prac­tices such as bal­lot har­vest­ing for years.
And, as the par­ty con­tin­ues its sig­nif­i­cant ear­ly vot­ing push, promi­nent Repub­li­cans deride the prac­tice.
In for­mer Pres­i­dent Don­ald Trump’s pitch­es in favor of vot­ing ear­ly, he still men­tions his con­cerns over its secu­ri­ty and ulti­mate dis­taste for the method. “I will secure our elec­tions, and our goal will be one-day vot­ing with paper bal­lots and vot­er ID,” he said in Iowa ear­li­er this month. “But until then, Repub­li­cans have to com­pete and we have to win.”
At a sep­a­rate New Hamp­shire event, the for­mer pres­i­dent told his sup­port­ers they don’t need to wor­ry abo …