Republicans in two key battleground states were hit with two legal setbacks on Monday, after judges in Michigan and North Carolina rejected their efforts to crack down on overseas voting by US citizens living abroad, criticizing the short timeline and proposed remedy sought by the plaintiffs.
A Michigan appeals court judge described the effort as an “attempt to disrespect” overseas voters, while a North Carolina Supreme Court judge said the plaintiffs “did not present substantial evidence” to support their claims that the current laws do not go far enough. to prevent electoral fraud.
The two separate court decisions come weeks after Republicans in Pennsylvania, Michigan and North Carolina filed lawsuits aimed at blocking both the registration process and the vetting of overseas voters.
Republican plaintiffs argued that the current law allows these citizens to register and vote in elections without proper identification. The contention has been fiercely rejected by Democrats, who say the vetting level sought by Republicans would drive “tens of thousands” of voters out of the country, including US service members and their families.
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Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have been at loggerheads in the two weeks before the election.
Judges in America’s battleground states appear to support the idea, following two separate rulings filed Monday.
In Michigan, Court of Claims Judge Sima Patel rejected the plaintiffs’ attempt to create a law that would allow spouses and dependents of US service members serving overseas to vote at that person’s home address, even if they have never lived in the state themselves.
Patel criticized the timing of the GOP-led lawsuit, which was filed just 28 days before the election, saying it would result in “tremendous prejudice” against would-be voters and election officials.
Pursuant to federal law, the Michigan Legislature has made a policy decision to allow a number of people traveling with family members abroad to qualify as Michigan citizens for the purpose of voting in Michigan because they are connected to Michigan through a spouse, parent, or. someone in a parental role,” Patel said, adding that “It’s hard to imagine a prejudicial situation caused by the plaintiffs’ delay.”
Patel also noted that the overseas voter law has been in place for 12 years and has not been challenged so far.
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And in North Carolina, Wake County Superior Court Judge John Smith dismissed a GOP lawsuit that pushed for uniform absentee voting rules for spouses of US service members, noting that the current overseas voting system was adopted in 2011 with bipartisan support, and “hasn’t been challenged.” until the filing of this appeal and motion.”
In addition, he said, the plaintiffs “failed to demonstrate any likelihood of irreparable harm” to the voters in question.
Mail-in ballots for the 2020 election are scheduled in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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In Pennsylvania, judges are expected to rule on three separate lawsuits filed by Republicans in recent weeks seeking to limit overseas voters and their registration under the Uniformed and Overseas Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) of 1986, which oversees the voting process for US citizens living abroad. .
Democrats, on the other hand, have criticized the legalization as a last-minute attempt by Republicans to limit voter turnout from a population that is already a reliable base of GOP support.
More than 1.2 million international votes were cast in the 2020 election, according to the data from the US Election Assistance Commission.
And in the hotly contested race leading up to Election Day, these voters could play an important role in the final outcome of the race. All three of these states are considered “contest” states in the 2024 election, and could prove to be important in choosing the next president.
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“The anti-election activists, fearing that they will lose this election, are working tirelessly to get our military members out of the United States,” said Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat again Air Force veteranhe told Fox News.
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