MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal appeals court has declined a request by Republicans to suspend a ruling that would allow absentee ballots to be counted in the presidential battleground state for six days after the election.

The Republican National Committee, state GOP party and Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday asked the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to keep the ruling on hold.

They want the Wisconsin Supreme Court to address a separate question of whether the Legislature has standing to sue in the case.

The appeals court denied the motion hours later without comment.