Key facts
- The US Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law that permits mail-in ballots arriving within five business days after election day to be counted, as long as they are postmarked by election day.
- The Republican National Committee (RNC) challenged this law, arguing it violates federal statutes setting election day.
- The ruling impacts similar laws in fourteen states, Washington D.C., and three U.S. territories.
- Some states, including Mississippi, enacted such provisions in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Donald Trump has publicly called for an end to mail voting, despite casting a mail-in ballot himself in a recent election.
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots arriving within five business days after election day to be counted, provided they were postmarked by election day. This decision sided against national Republicans and the Trump administration, impacting similar laws in over a dozen states and Washington D.C.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) had challenged the Mississippi law, arguing that the grace period violates federal laws establishing the first Tuesday in November as election day. Mississippi, a Republican-led state, defended its right to set its own election procedures.
This ruling comes as President Donald Trump and some Republicans have frequently questioned the integrity of mail voting. However, the article notes that millions of voters across parties use mail-in ballots for convenience, and safeguards like signature verification are in place. Trump himself cast a mail-in ballot in a recent special election.
During oral arguments, conservative justices explored hypothetical scenarios related to election fraud, while liberal justices highlighted federal laws permitting grace periods and the potential impact on early voting. The RNC initially lost its case in district court before winning at the fifth circuit court of appeals, leading to the Supreme Court's review.