Vet Voice Foundation Applauds Michigan Court Ruling Upholding Voting Rights for Overseas Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vet Voice Foundation (VVF) celebrates today’s decision by a Michigan judge rejecting a lawsuit brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Michigan Republican Party, which sought to limit the voting rights of certain overseas citizens. This ruling affirms that all eligible overseas voters—including children, dependents, and spouses of former Michigan residents—can participate in the upcoming November election.

The court dismissed the RNC’s last-minute attempt to segregate or block overseas ballots, ensuring the voices of thousands of citizens living abroad will be heard. Judge Sima Patel, in her decision, expressed concern over the prospect of disenfranchising voters and reaffirmed that both state and federal laws protect the voting rights of overseas Americans.

Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, praised the decision:

“This is a significant victory for democracy and a validation of the principles we fight for at Vet Voice Foundation. Every vote counts, and this ruling ensures that overseas voters—many of whom are connected to military families—will not be silenced by frivolous legal challenges. We are confident that courts in other battleground states will reach the same conclusion, reaffirming the fundamental right to vote for all Americans, no matter where they reside.”

The RNC’s lawsuit targeted voters who have never lived in Michigan but remain eligible to vote under the guidance of the Michigan Secretary of State. The court’s decision reflects the importance of the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) and protects voters from being disenfranchised based on their location.

VVF has been actively engaged in similar efforts to safeguard voting rights in other battleground states, including North Carolina and Pennsylvania, where similar lawsuits have sought to undermine voting for troops and military families – part of a worrying national trend of attacks on voting rights that disproportionately impact military members and their families.

“The right to vote is fundamental, and we’ll continue to stand with military and overseas voters in every state where these types of lawsuits arise,” Goldbeck added.