Judges Dismiss GOP Lawsuits on Overseas Voting

Judges in Michigan and North Carolina have dismissed lawsuits filed by the Republican National Committee aiming to disqualify overseas voters who have never resided in these states. Michigan Judge Sima Patel criticized the lawsuits as an '11th hour attempt to disenfranchise' voters, while North Carolina Judge John W. Smith noted the bipartisan support of the voting policies in question. The lawsuits alleged that allowing such individuals to vote could introduce fraud, but judges found no substantial evidence supporting these claims. Critics argue these legal challenges target a voting bloc potentially favorable to Democrats, as overseas civilian voters surpass military voters in numbers. Despite the RNC's claims of protecting electoral integrity, these actions could disenfranchise military personnel and their families. The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act protects the rights of overseas citizens, including military members and their families, to vote absentee in federal elections.