A federal judge on Thursday ruled against the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) effort to move a case over North Carolina’s absentee voting guidelines back to state court.

The RNC, the North Carolina Republican Party and a voter sued the board last month in state court, but the board successfully moved the case to federal court because accepting the Republican position would violate the Civil Rights Act. since 1964, according to The Hill.

Republicans argued the guidance violated state law requiring absentee ballots to be returned in a sealed package with two envelopes. The guidance says single-envelope absentee ballots can be counted by county clerks.

U.S. District Judge Richard Myers ruled that the board of elections did what it needed to do to move the case to the federal circuit.

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

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