Special Poll
State judges in Michigan and North Carolina recently ruled against the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) efforts to challenge how certain overseas ballots were being handled. The RNC had raised concerns that both states were improperly accepting ballots from individuals who had never lived in their jurisdictions but were still eligible due to their parents’ voting status before moving abroad.
In Michigan, Judge Sima Patel ruled that the RNC’s challenge was brought too late, just weeks before Election Day, which made it impractical to revisit the ballots in question. The state had established clear guidelines allowing overseas citizens, including spouses, to vote under specific circumstances, which Judge Patel upheld. She noted that the RNC could have challenged this law years earlier, and she declined to penalize the plaintiffs, which included the RNC and the Michigan Republican Party.
In North Carolina, Judge John Smith also rejected the RNC’s request for an injunction, stating that they had failed to provide any evidence of fraud or wrongdoing. He highlighted that baseless allegations were not enough to disenfranchise a group of voters, particularly when there was no substantive proof to support the claims.
These rulings are part of a broader pattern where overseas voting, which now primarily involves U.S. citizens living abroad rather than military personnel, has become a focal point in recent election-related lawsuits. The bloc of overseas voters is increasingly seen as leaning Democratic, prompting challenges in various states.
One more case in Pennsylvania is still ongoing, although the RNC is not directly involved. That lawsuit, filed by several Republican congressmen, claims that election officials are not adhering to federal guidelines for verifying overseas ballots, but state officials argue that the requirements are being misinterpreted.
As these cases unfold, overseas voting remains a contested issue in the lead-up to the general elections, with courts continuing to weigh in on how the laws are applied.