A federal judge on Monday rejected a Republican request to invalidate 127,000 ballots that had already been cast via drive-through voting stations across Harris County, Texas, ruling that the plaintiffs lack standing.

Why it matters: Harris County, which includes the city of Houston, is the most populous county in Texas and voted for Hillary Clinton by just over 160,000 ballots in 2016, according to Bloomberg.

• The ruling comes one day after the Texas Supreme Court denied a nearly identical effort by Republicans in Harris County.
• Texas, which hasn't backed a Democrat for president since 1976, has been rated a toss up by the Cook Political Report. Joe Biden securing the state's 38 electoral votes would virtually guarantee his path to the White House.

The big picture: Dozens of lawsuits related to voting rights continue to be litigated all over the country, as Republicans sue to block efforts to expand voting access — such as extending mail-in ballot deadlines — that have been instituted during the pandemic.

“Count Every Vote” protest outside the federal courthouse in downtown #Houston. Major court hearing today on fate of 127-thousand drive-thru ballots cast in Harris County. pic.twitter.com/BHtfAnpZem

— ed lavandera (@edlavaCNN) November 2, 2020