In a recent turn of events, judges in Michigan and North Carolina dismissed lawsuits from the Republican National Committee challenging the validity of overseas ballots. The GOP argued that U.S. citizens living abroad should not be allowed to vote in states where they have not previously resided. However, both states rejected the lawsuits, citing federal laws that allow eligible citizens and service members living overseas to cast their votes.
Michigan Secretary of State clarified that citizens with familial ties to Michigan are eligible to vote in the state, even if they have never resided there. Judge Sima Patel of Michigan’s Court of Claims criticized the RNC’s lawsuit as a last-minute attempt to disenfranchise overseas voters. Meanwhile, North Carolina’s Judge John W. Smith denied the RNC’s request, citing bipartisan support for the existing election rules.
Despite claims from former President Trump and GOP allies regarding election integrity, legal experts believe similar lawsuits in Pennsylvania are unlikely to succeed. This issue has raised concerns among military voters, with a former Army secretary denouncing the lawsuits as sending the wrong message.