A federal appeals court on Sept. 27 temporarily paused a nearly week-long extension for counting absentee ballots in Wisconsin state in the upcoming election.
Absentee ballots in the key presidential battleground state will now, as it stands, be due by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Sunday.
It comes after U.S. District Judge William Conley previously sided with the Democratic National Committee, and asked Wisconsin officials to count the ballots six days after the presidential election to make counting ballots easier amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
While more than 1 million absentee ballots have been requested to date, the Wisconsin Elections Commission anticipates that as many as 2 million will eventually be cast. Conley argued last week that the figure would be three times more than any previous election, and could overwhelm election officials.
The U.S. Postal Service will also “undoubtedly be overwhelmed again with ballots in November, as they were in April,” Conley wrote on Sept. 21, ruling that ballots that arrive up to six days after Election Day will count as long as they’re postmarked by Election Day.
Wisconsin Republicans have echoed President Donald Trump’s concerns over mail-in voting and potential voter fraud this November.
The appeals court will now further review Conley’s order. The federal judge’s order will be halted until the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals or U.S. Supreme Court issues any further action.
No further details were immediately posted by the appeals court.
Wisconsin is seen as a crucial battleground state. In 2016, Trump took the state by just 0.77 percent—fewer than 23,000 votes—over then-presidential rival Hillary Clinton. Both sides expect a tight race this year.
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