Judges in Michigan and North Carolina on Monday dismissed lawsuits filed by the Republican National Committee and others that sought to challenge overseas ballots cast by voters who had never resided in those states.
The rulings in these two separate cases on Monday represent setbacks for Republicans aiming to target the overseas vote. The vote has traditionally been regarded as vital due to its connection to military personnel but could now become an important bloc for Democrats, as the number of civilian expatriates overseas has surpassed that of military voters serving abroad.
Former President Donald Trump and his GOP allies have promoted these cases as crucial for ensuring the integrity of the 2024 election, but their arguments were dismissed in court. The Michigan judge described the lawsuit as an “attempt to disenfranchise” voters, while the North Carolina judge stated that Republicans “presented no substantial evidence” of the fraud they claimed they were trying to prevent, CNN reported.
The RNC filed lawsuits in Michigan and North Carolina to challenge state policies that permit citizens living abroad to cast ballots in those states if their parents (or, in Michigan, their spouse) resided there before leaving the country, even if the voters themselves have never lived