A recent lawsuit in Waynesboro, Virginia, involving two Republican officials has sparked a counter lawsuit from voters in the Shenandoah Valley city. The initial lawsuit threatened not to certify the 2024 election results unless a hand-count of ballots was conducted. This dispute highlights the growing trend of unsubstantiated election fraud claims at the local level, following former President Donald Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election outcome.
Unlike similar cases, the Waynesboro officials are raising concerns about certifying the results well before the final ballots have been cast, potentially causing delays in the state's overall certification process. The new lawsuit filed by Waynesboro voters alleges that one of the GOP officials was influenced by their attorney to take legal action.
The attorney representing the Republican officials, Thomas Ranieri, emphasized that his clients are focused on ensuring the integrity of the election process and verifying that all votes are accurately counted. Ranieri stated that the lawsuit is not about questioning the voting machines or disenfranchising voters but rather about upholding the integrity of the election results.
Ranieri indicated that his clients are willing to abide by the court's decision but would appeal any rulings they disagree with. The Virginia State Board of Elections and the office of state Attorney General Jason Miyares have refrained from commenting on the ongoing litigation.
