(AP) -- CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - A panel of three federal judges has refused to halt South Carolina's primary less than 24 hours before voters go to the polls.
Five former candidates had asked the judges to stop Tuesday's primary election after the state Supreme Court removed more than 200 candidates from the ballot for not properly filing paperwork.
The five candidates contended their removal from the ballot violated the federal Voting Rights Act.
But a three-judge panel meeting by telephone conference call refused to stop the voting.
An attorney for the five candidates, Candy Kern-Fuller, did not immediately respond to a message for comment Monday evening.
Polls are scheduled to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
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