Don't use form.elements as that isn't supported in jQuery 1.6 anymore.

jzaefferer · jzaefferer · commit 3a42224bf6ff · 2011-04-26T21:51:23.000+02:00
ITs buggy as hell anyway (IE6-8: form.elements === form).
diff --git a/jquery.validate.js b/jquery.validate.js
@@ -430,9 +430,8 @@ $.extend($.validator, {
 				rulesCache = {};
 
 			// select all valid inputs inside the form (no submit or reset buttons)
-			// workaround $Query([]).add until http://dev.jquery.com/ticket/2114 is solved
-			return $([]).add(this.currentForm.elements)
-			.filter(":input")
+			return $(this.currentForm)
+			.find("input, select, textarea")
 			.not(":submit, :reset, :image, [disabled]")
 			.not( this.settings.ignore )
 			.filter(function() {
