A federal judge has denied the Republican National Committee's (RNC) request to revert North Carolina's absentee ballot guidance to state court, effectively preventing any immediate changes for the upcoming election. The RNC's lawsuit, claiming the guidance violates a state law requiring absentee ballots to be returned in a sealed, two-envelope package, will proceed in federal court under Judge Richard Myers. Concurrently, a North Carolina appeals court upheld a trial court's decision rejecting the RNC's attempt to disqualify ballots from overseas voters, emphasizing a lack of evidence for claims of fraud. Meanwhile, the RNC has faced setbacks in similar lawsuits across Michigan and Pennsylvania, with courts dismissing their efforts to disenfranchise overseas voters. The legal battles reflect ongoing Republican challenges to voting regulations in pivotal states ahead of the presidential election. These developments underline the contentious landscape of voting rights and election integrity as the election approaches.