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GOP leaders said Friday they will not support Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ request to extend Tuesday’s presidential primary and spring election into May, limit almost all voting to mail-in ballots and send a ballot to every registered voter who has not yet requested one — all measures to mitigate a health hazard for poll workers and voters amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evers on Friday ordered the Legislature to meet in special session at 4 p.m. Saturday to take up the legislation. Evers’ order came a day after a federal judge declined to postpone Tuesday’s election, but ordered the deadline for filing absentee ballots be extended to April 13.

Republicans asked the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, to put that ruling on hold, asserting that U.S. District Judge William Conley, on short notice before Tuesday’s election, “rewrote” the rules for the election, creating voter confusion.

However, the appeals court on Friday refused to grant the stay. The order did not provide any explanation for the refusal.

The 7th Circuit did stay Conley’s decision to exempt absentee voters from the witness signature requirement, saying the judge didn’t consider that lifting the mandate might open the door to fraud.