By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a challenge from Republican legislators to the pandemic-related proxy vote rules that Speaker Nancy Pelosi had set in her Democratic-led House of Representatives. These voting rules were designed to reduce exposure to COVID-19.

These voting rules allow House members to act as proxy votes for their colleagues who have been placed in quarantine. Kevin McCarthy (House Republican leader) and other legislators had sought to have the Supreme Court overturn a lower court’s decision that would allow remote voting rules to be in place.

A House resolution allowed lawmakers to be proxies for as many as 10 of their colleagues. However, they had to disclose the members they were representing. The provisional proxy voting system was introduced early during the pandemic. It was meant to be temporary but was extended many times. Last extension in force until Feb. 13

Republican legislators have called this measure a violation to the U.S. Constitution. They argue that Congress is only able to vote if there are lawmakers present in the chambers. Republicans called the resolution an attempt to preserve their narrow majority in Congress, regardless of the presence or absence of all members.

Despite Republican opposition, the two parties took advantage of proxy voting to work remotely. It is similar to millions of U.S. workers.

Last May, 7 House Democrats cast their votes via proxy while they accompanied President Joe Biden during a visit at a Ford Motor Co (NYSE:) Co facility in Michigan. On the U.S. border to Mexico, nine House Republicans cast proxy votes while they visited former President Donald Trump.

McCarthy’s legal challenge in July was denied by the federal appeals court. The U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling and said that it could not review the proxy voting rules.

D.C. Circuit panel of three judges cited the Constitution’s “speech and debate” clause to protect members Congress from suits for acts they take as legislators.

Other rules have been adopted by the House to protect lawmakers from the pandemic. They include a mandate that they wear face masks, and an interdiction on gathering in the Speakers Lobby area outside of the House. Virtual hearings of many House and Senate committees are also possible. The Capitol is not open to tourists.

McCarthy and his associates brought a legal challenge to Pelosi. This is a clear example of sharp partisan tensions within the House. Republicans want to win back a majority of the chamber’s members in November’s congressional election.