Federal judge ends RNC's effort to move North Carolina ballot envelope case to state court

A federal judge on Thursday ruled against the Republican National Committee's (RNC) effort to move a case regarding North Carolina's absentee ballot guidance back to state court.

The RNC, the North Carolina Republican Party, and a voter sued the board of elections last month in state court, but the elections board successfully got the case transferred to federal court because if they accepted the Republican position then it would violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to The Hill.

Republicans argued that the guidance violated state law that requires absentee ballots be returned in a sealed, two-envelope package. The guidance says that absentee ballots with just one envelope can still be counted by county clerks.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers ruled that the elections board did the right thing in getting the case moved to the federal circuit. 

The case is still expected to continue, but a decision is not expected before Election Day on Nov. 5.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.