New Jersey Overseas Voters Challenge
Republican National Committee v. New Jersey Department of State
An anti-voting lawsuit seeking to block certain U.S. citizens living abroad from voting in New Jersey federal elections.
Background
The Republican National Committee, New Jersey Republican State Committee and Republican congressional candidate Michael McGuire sued New Jersey election officials over the state’s overseas voting law.
The lawsuit challenges provisions that allow certain U.S. citizens living abroad to vote in New Jersey federal elections if a parent, legal guardian, spouse, civil union partner or domestic partner was formerly domiciled in the state. The plaintiffs argue that these voters are not covered by federal overseas voting protections and that New Jersey’s law violates the state constitution’s residency requirement.
The lawsuit asks the court to block New Jersey from registering these voters, remove affected voters from the rolls, segregate their ballots and prevent those votes from being counted.
Why It Matters
This case is part of a broader Republican legal campaign targeting voting access for Americans living abroad. This is the RNC’s eighth recent lawsuit challenging overseas voting laws, following similar cases in Michigan, North Carolina, Arizona, Virginia, Nebraska, Colorado and Nevada.
If successful, the lawsuit could restrict ballot access for certain U.S. citizens overseas and encourage similar challenges in other states.Â
Latest Updates
- July 9, 2026: The RNC filed its complaint.