diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index eb9551a9c..7b3883f6f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
     linux_tests:
-        runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+        runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
 
         steps:
             - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stale.yml b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
index 3e3c347e7..6332ce773 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stale.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stale.yml
@@ -35,5 +35,5 @@ jobs:
                   stale-issue-label: 'stale'
                   stale-pr-label: 'stale'
                   exempt-all-milestones: true
-                  exempt-issue-labels: 'Status: Verified'
+                  exempt-issue-labels: 'Status: Verified, Type: Feature'
                   exempt-pr-labels: 'MERGE ME, NEEDS REVIEW'
diff --git a/.jscsrc b/.jscsrc
index d50b36c38..018d8ca09 100644
--- a/.jscsrc
+++ b/.jscsrc
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 {
 	"preset": "jquery",
 	"maximumLineLength": null,
-	"requireCamelCaseOrUpperCaseIdentifiers": null
+	"requireCamelCaseOrUpperCaseIdentifiers": null,
+	"excludeFiles": [
+		"test/custom-elements.js"
+	]
 }
diff --git a/.jshintignore b/.jshintignore
index ffdbea7be..420537ee7 100644
--- a/.jshintignore
+++ b/.jshintignore
@@ -4,3 +4,4 @@ test/qunit/
 dist/
 demo/
 *.min.js
+test/custom-elements.js
diff --git a/Gruntfile.js b/Gruntfile.js
index 18cd73e33..2f4e3ea6c 100644
--- a/Gruntfile.js
+++ b/Gruntfile.js
@@ -115,7 +115,17 @@ grunt.initConfig( {
 		}
 	},
 	qunit: {
-		files: "test/index.html"
+		files: "test/index.html",
+		options: {
+			puppeteer: {
+				args: [
+					"--headless",
+					"--disable-web-security",
+					"--allow-file-access-from-files"
+				]
+			},
+			timeout: 10000
+		}
 	},
 	jshint: {
 		options: {
diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index 4680381ae..65b392ff8 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+1.20.1 / 2024-06-13
+===================
+
+## Core
+  * Fix remote validation when input is the same as in aborted request [#2481](https://github.com/jquery-validation/jquery-validation/pull/2481)
+
+## Localisation
+  * Update Arabic translations [#2485](https://github.com/jquery-validation/jquery-validation/pull/2485)
+
 1.20.0 / 2023-10-10
 ===================
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f1a027aa7..7fd85ca91 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 	"name": "jquery-validation",
 	"title": "jQuery Validation Plugin",
 	"description": "Client-side form validation made easy",
-	"version": "1.20.1-pre",
+	"version": "1.21.1-pre",
 	"homepage": "https://jqueryvalidation.org/",
 	"license": "MIT",
 	"author": {
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 		"grunt-contrib-concat": "1.0.1",
 		"grunt-contrib-copy": "1.0.0",
 		"grunt-contrib-jshint": "1.0.0",
-		"grunt-contrib-qunit": "1.2.0",
+		"grunt-contrib-qunit": "10.0.0",
 		"grunt-contrib-uglify": "1.0.1",
 		"grunt-contrib-watch": "1.0.0",
 		"grunt-jscs": "2.8.0",
diff --git a/src/core.js b/src/core.js
index 426b2551a..240e2737b 100644
--- a/src/core.js
+++ b/src/core.js
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ $.extend( $.validator, {
 		onsubmit: true,
 		ignore: ":hidden",
 		ignoreTitle: false,
+		customElements: [],
 		onfocusin: function( element ) {
 			this.lastActive = element;
 
@@ -422,17 +423,17 @@ $.extend( $.validator, {
 					settings[ eventType ].call( validator, this, event );
 				}
 			}
-
+			var focusListeners = [ ":text", "[type='password']", "[type='file']", "select", "textarea", "[type='number']", "[type='search']",
+								"[type='tel']", "[type='url']", "[type='email']", "[type='datetime']", "[type='date']", "[type='month']",
+								"[type='week']", "[type='time']", "[type='datetime-local']", "[type='range']", "[type='color']",
+								"[type='radio']", "[type='checkbox']", "[contenteditable]", "[type='button']" ];
+			var clickListeners = [ "select", "option", "[type='radio']", "[type='checkbox']" ];
 			$( this.currentForm )
-				.on( "focusin.validate focusout.validate keyup.validate",
-					":text, [type='password'], [type='file'], select, textarea, [type='number'], [type='search'], " +
-					"[type='tel'], [type='url'], [type='email'], [type='datetime'], [type='date'], [type='month'], " +
-					"[type='week'], [type='time'], [type='datetime-local'], [type='range'], [type='color'], " +
-					"[type='radio'], [type='checkbox'], [contenteditable], [type='button']", delegate )
+				.on( "focusin.validate focusout.validate keyup.validate", focusListeners.concat( this.settings.customElements ).join( ", " ), delegate )
 
 				// Support: Chrome, oldIE
 				// "select" is provided as event.target when clicking a option
-				.on( "click.validate", "select, option, [type='radio'], [type='checkbox']", delegate );
+				.on( "click.validate", clickListeners.concat( this.settings.customElements ).join( ", " ), delegate );
 
 			if ( this.settings.invalidHandler ) {
 				$( this.currentForm ).on( "invalid-form.validate", this.settings.invalidHandler );
@@ -629,11 +630,12 @@ $.extend( $.validator, {
 
 		elements: function() {
 			var validator = this,
-				rulesCache = {};
+				rulesCache = {},
+				selectors = [ "input", "select", "textarea", "[contenteditable]" ];
 
 			// Select all valid inputs inside the form (no submit or reset buttons)
 			return $( this.currentForm )
-			.find( "input, select, textarea, [contenteditable]" )
+			.find( selectors.concat( this.settings.customElements ).join( ", " ) )
 			.not( ":submit, :reset, :image, :disabled" )
 			.not( this.settings.ignore )
 			.filter( function() {
@@ -1483,7 +1485,7 @@ $.extend( $.validator, {
 
 		// https://jqueryvalidation.org/number-method/
 		number: function( value, element ) {
-			return this.optional( element ) || /^(?:-?\d+|-?\d{1,3}(?:,\d{3})+)?(?:\.\d+)?$/.test( value );
+			return this.optional( element ) || /^(?:-?\d+|-?\d{1,3}(?:,\d{3})+)?(?:-?\.\d+)?$/.test( value );
 		},
 
 		// https://jqueryvalidation.org/digits-method/
diff --git a/src/localization/messages_nl.js b/src/localization/messages_nl.js
index 2d6a6970e..abee59f9e 100644
--- a/src/localization/messages_nl.js
+++ b/src/localization/messages_nl.js
@@ -30,5 +30,45 @@ $.extend( $.validator.messages, {
 	postalcodeNL: "Vul hier een geldige postcode in.",
 	bankaccountNL: "Vul hier een geldig bankrekeningnummer in.",
 	giroaccountNL: "Vul hier een geldig gironummer in.",
-	bankorgiroaccountNL: "Vul hier een geldig bank- of gironummer in."
+	bankorgiroaccountNL: "Vul hier een geldig bank- of gironummer in.",
+
+	maxWords: $.validator.format( "Vul hier maximaal {0} woorden in." ),
+	minWords: $.validator.format( "Vul hier minimaal {0} woorden in." ),
+	rangeWords: $.validator.format( "Vul hier tussen {0} en {1} woorden in." ),
+	accept: "Vul hier een waarde in met een geldig MIME-type.",
+	alphanumeric: "Vul hier alleen letters, cijfers of underscores in.",
+	bic: "Vul hier een geldige BIC-code in.",
+	creditcardtypes: "Vul hier een geldig creditcardnummer in.",
+	currency: "Vul hier een geldige valuta in.",
+	integer: "Vul hier een geheel getal in.",
+	ipv4: "Vul hier een geldig IPv4-adres in.",
+	ipv6: "Vul hier een geldig IPv6-adres in.",
+	lettersonly: "Vul hier alleen letters in.",
+	letterswithbasicpunc: "Vul hier alleen letters of leestekens in.",
+	netmask: "Vul hier een geldig netmasker in.",
+	notEqualTo: "Vul hier een andere waarde in. De waarden mogen niet gelijk zijn.",
+	nowhitespace: "Spaties zijn niet toegestaan.",
+	pattern: "Ongeldig formaat.",
+	require_from_group: $.validator.format( "Vul minimaal {0} van deze velden in." ),
+	skip_or_fill_minimum: $.validator.format( "Sla deze velden over of vul er minimaal {0} van in." ),
+	strippedminlength: $.validator.format( "Vul hier minimaal {0} tekens in." ),
+	time: "Vul hier een geldige tijd in tussen 00:00 en 23:59.",
+	time12h: "Vul hier een geldige tijd in (12-uursnotatie).",
+	cifES: "Vul hier een geldig CIF-nummer in.",
+	cpfBR: "Vul hier een geldig CPF-nummer in.",
+	mobileUK: "Vul hier een geldig Brits mobiel nummer in.",
+	nieES: "Vul hier een geldig NIE-nummer in.",
+	nifES: "Vul hier een geldig NIF-nummer in.",
+	nipPL: "Vul hier een geldig NIP-nummer in.",
+	phonesUK: "Vul hier een geldig Brits telefoonnummer in.",
+	phoneUK: "Vul hier een geldig Brits telefoonnummer in.",
+	phoneUS: "Vul hier een geldig Amerikaans telefoonnummer in.",
+	postalcodeBR: "Vul hier een geldige Braziliaanse postcode in.",
+	postalCodeCA: "Vul hier een geldige Canadese postcode in.",
+	postalcodeIT: "Vul hier een geldige Italiaanse postcode in.",
+	postcodeUK: "Vul hier een geldige Britse postcode in.",
+	stateUS: "Vul hier een geldige Amerikaanse staat in.",
+	vinUS: "Het opgegeven voertuigidentificatienummer (VIN) is ongeldig.",
+	zipcodeUS: "De opgegeven Amerikaanse postcode is ongeldig.",
+	ziprange: "Uw postcode moet binnen het bereik 902xx-xxxx tot 905xx-xxxx liggen."
 } );
diff --git a/test/custom-elements.js b/test/custom-elements.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7a4afc327
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/custom-elements.js
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+class CustomTextElement extends HTMLElement {
+    static formAssociated = true;
+    static observedAttributes = ["name", "id"];
+
+    constructor() {
+        super();
+        this.internals_ = this.attachInternals();
+    }
+    get form() {
+        return this.internals_ != null ? this.internals_.form : null;
+    }
+    get name() {
+        return this.getAttribute("name");
+    }
+}
+
+window.customElements.define("custom-text", CustomTextElement);
diff --git a/test/index.html b/test/index.html
index 601f6a505..e23e52dfc 100644
--- a/test/index.html
+++ b/test/index.html
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 	<script src="../lib/jquery.mockjax.js"></script>
 	<script src="../dist/jquery.validate.js"></script>
 	<script src="../dist/additional-methods.js"></script>
+	<script src="custom-elements.js"></script>
 	<script src="test.js"></script>
 	<script src="rules.js"></script>
 	<script src="messages.js"></script>
@@ -472,6 +473,9 @@ <h3></h3>
 	</form>	
 	<form id="escapeHtmlForm2">
 		<input name="escapeHtmlForm2text" id="escapeHtmlForm2text" data-rule-required="true" />
+	</form>
+	<form id="customElementsForm">
+		<custom-text name="customTextElement" id="customTextElement" />
 	</form>	
 </div>
 </body>
diff --git a/test/methods.js b/test/methods.js
index b2644f59d..e0d02eef2 100644
--- a/test/methods.js
+++ b/test/methods.js
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ QUnit.test( "number", function( assert ) {
 	assert.ok( method( "123,000.00" ), "Valid decimal" );
 	assert.ok( method( "-123,000.00" ), "Valid decimal" );
 	assert.ok( method( ".100" ), "Valid decimal" );
+	assert.ok( method( "-.100" ), "Valid decimal" );
 	assert.ok( !method( "1230,000.00" ), "Invalid decimal" );
 	assert.ok( !method( "123.0.0,0" ), "Invalid decimal" );
 	assert.ok( !method( "x123" ), "Invalid decimal" );
diff --git a/test/test.js b/test/test.js
index c6f123f69..f9fbd4bdc 100644
--- a/test/test.js
+++ b/test/test.js
@@ -2786,3 +2786,24 @@ QUnit.test( "stopRequest() should submit the form once pendingRequests === 0", f
     // Submit the form
     $( button ).click();
 } );
+
+QUnit.test( "Assign rules to customElement via .validate() method", function( assert ) {
+	var form = $( "#customElementsForm" );
+	var v = form.validate( {
+		customElements: [ "custom-text" ],
+		rules: {
+			customTextElement: {
+				required: true
+			}
+		}
+	} );
+	var customTextElementRules = $( "#customTextElement", form ).rules();
+	var expectedRules = { required: true };
+
+	assert.deepEqual(
+		customTextElementRules, expectedRules, "The rules should be the same"
+	);
+
+	v.form();
+	assert.equal( v.numberOfInvalids(), 1, "The form has one error" );
+} );