In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that states may continue to count mail-in ballots received after Election Day, provided they are postmarked by the deadline. The ruling dismisses an effort by the Republican National Committee to invalidate a Mississippi law that allows a five-day grace period for ballots.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's three liberal justices in the majority opinion. Writing for the court, Barrett noted that federal election statutes do not mandate that ballots be physically received by Election Day, stating that the court cannot expand the scope of the language chosen by Congress.
The case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, challenged state-level election administration. Advocates for military families, the elderly, and voters with disabilities praised the decision as a safeguard against disenfranchisement. Voting rights groups, including the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Campaign Legal Center, argued that the ruling prevents unnecessary confusion and protects the ability of voters to participate in elections despite logistical hurdles.
While the decision provides a legal victory for voting rights groups, political tension remains high as the midterm elections approach. President Donald Trump has continued to pressure Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would impose strict federal proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic leaders described the court's ruling as a significant win, though they warned that the administration and its allies remain committed to restrictive voting policies.
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