With a closely watched trial set to begin next month, a federal judge struck a blow to left-leaning groups seeking to expand Florida's vote-by-mail procedures.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle denied most portions of the groups' requests for preliminary injunctions in the case, which is a consolidation of three lawsuits, saying the plaintiffs lack "a substantial likelihood of succeeding" on the vast majority of the issues.

In one of the lawsuits, the group Priorities USA and other plaintiffs want the judge to extend a deadline for mail-in ballots to be returned and require free postage for the ballots. They're also challenging a provision in Florida law restricting paid workers from collecting mail-in ballots.