### Appeals Court Blocks GOP Effort to Segregate Overseas Ballots in North Carolina

In a decisive move, the North Carolina Court of Appeals unanimously turned down a Republican initiative on Tuesday to mandate separate handling of overseas ballots cast by individuals who have never resided in the state. This ruling signifies another significant setback for Republican attempts to scrutinize overseas ballots in key battleground states.

The court's decision follows closely on the heels of a similar ruling in Pennsylvania, where a federal judge dismissed a challenge to the vetting procedures for overseas ballots earlier the same day. Additionally, a state judge in Michigan ruled against the GOP last week in a case focused on ballots from non-resident voters with familial ties to the state.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) had filed a lawsuit in early October against North Carolina to oppose a policy allowing citizens abroad to vote in the state if their parents had resided there before moving overseas. Despite having bipartisan support and being in effect since 2012, the Republicans contended that the law conflicted with the state constitution, which restricts voting to North Carolina residents. The GOP claimed this policy could lead to election fraud and other misconduct.

Last week, Wake County Superior Court Judge John W. Smith denied the RNC's request for an emergency order to segregate these ballots. Judge Smith emphasized the absence of any evidence suggesting fraudulent claims under the current exemption.

Following this setback, the RNC swiftly appealed to the Court of Appeals, which reaffirmed Smith's decision. The North Carolina State Board of Election and the Democratic National Committee, who intervened to defend the law, urged the appeals court to reject the RNC’s request, warning of potential chaos in an already underway election.

State officials reported that nearly 2.3 million ballots had already been cast in the general election as of Tuesday afternoon, including over 15,000 overseas votes and just under 5,000 military ballots. Notably, since 2016, the number of overseas civilian voters has surpassed military voters, a demographic shift that reflects changing political dynamics.

The state law allowing such votes was passed in 2011 with bipartisan support and aimed at ensuring inclusivity for citizens abroad. Democrats have recently invested significantly in mobilizing eligible voters abroad, recognizing the critical impact of these ballots in battleground states.