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Judges in Michigan and North Carolina have rejected lawsuits filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) challenging the legality of ballots cast by voters abroad who never lived in those states.

Let’s bring you up to speed: The initial lawsuits filed by the Republican National Committee (RNC) in Michigan and North Carolina challenged state policies that allow overseas citizens to vote if they have ties to the state, even if they have never lived there. The RNC argued that allowing these individuals—specifically children or spouses of former state residents—to cast ballots undermined election integrity. At the time, the RNC claimed that by allowing these people to vote, it could open the door to potential fraud.

What the judge ruled in Michigan: Judge Sima Patel ruled against the Republican National Committee’s lawsuit. Patel called the lawsuit an “11th-hour attempt to disenfranchise” these voters, criticizing the RNC for filing it so close to the election. She also noted that the timing made rejecting ballots already sent to voters abroad impractical and said the RNC’s claims lacked evidence of fraud or harm.  

What the judge ruled in North Carolina: Judge John W. Smith ruled against the Republican National Committee’s lawsuit. Smith found that the RNC failed to provide substantial evidence to support their claims of potential fraud.  

Harris campaign responds: In a statement, Harris-Walz campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak said, “Across the country, Republicans are pulling out all the stops to block your vote, but Democrats are fighting back and we are winning. No matter how you vote, and especially if you are serving our country overseas, Democrats will stand up for your right to make your voice heard while Republicans try to silence you. Once again, we beat Trump in court, and once again, we will beat him at the ballot box in November.”

The RNC and Trump campaign have not commented on the rulings.