When this episode of Neutral, you may remember hearing about the multiple mail-in and absentee

ballots cast in the 2020 and 2022 elections. Traditionally, Republicans tend to vote in

person at a polling place while Democrats have more of a likelihood to use mail-in or absentee

ballots. That historical trend has really challenged us to come up with solutions about how we can

encourage Republicans to vote both in person and by mail to maximize voter turnout.

As we begin to think about and plan for the 2024 election, I wanted to have a conversation with

key leaders at the Republican National Committee about some of the efforts they are leading to

ensure a fair, free, and honest election. So I'm really pleased to welcome my guest, Elliott

political director at the Republican National Committee.

Elliott, welcome and thank you for joining me on Newt's World.

Thank you, Miss Speaker, happy to be here. Now, you're originally from Rome, Georgia,

and you've worked both in state and local politics before joining the RNC. I'm curious,

what drew you into politics in the first place? It was honestly my Sunday school teacher.

When I first got involved in politics, it was a guy named Tom Graves who was a state rep in

Georgia and I actually didn't even vote in 2008. When I was 18, hoping change didn't sweep me up,

but when Tom decided to run in a special election to fill an open congressional seat,

I thought if guys like Tom are willing to kind of step into the arena and get involved,

I should be willing to get involved and help him as well. And it's funny, he actually had

three different elections that year through some special elections and then ultimately

the Tea Party wave that came in 2010. I loved it. I loved the personal connections you made on

campaigns and being able to share a message with voters and as always resonated with me as

going door to door, being able to convince your friends and neighbors to ultimately cast a ballot

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