EAST CHICAGO | Lake County Republicans scored a short-term victory Friday in the fight against early voting centers in northern Lake County before the battle shifted to federal court.

Lake County Judge Calvin Hawkins issued a temporary restraining order Friday morning barring county residents from voting in person before the Nov. 4 general election at satellite county courthouses in Gary, Hammond and East Chicago. The satellite offices had been set to open Monday.

The restraining order will be in effect through Wednesday or until the federal court makes a move in the case, officials said Friday.

The dispute shifted from Hawkins' courtroom to Hammond federal court for a 2 p.m. hearing Friday, county elections supervisor Michelle Fajman said.

Republicans filed a complaint Thursday arguing the three proposed satellite voting offices weren't authorized by a unanimous bipartisan vote of the county elections board as required by state law. The vote last month was 3-2, with the clerk and Democrats voting for opening the early polling locations and Republicans voting against the move.

Lake County GOP Chairman John Curley said there wouldn't be enough safeguards at those locations to ensure against vote fraud.

Curley could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Democrats argue there will be a record vote Nov. 4 and that early voting will help reduce long lines at the precinct polling places. Supporters of early voting also accuse Curley of trying to hold down the Democratic vote.

There is no dispute regarding early voting starting Monday at the election board's Crown Point office. Election officials also began mailing out more than 3,000 absentee ballots Thursday.

"Whatever the judge's ruling is, we'll abide by it," Fajman said.