Supreme Court Upholds Late-Arriving Mail Ballots
1 day ago
The Supreme Court has rejected a Republican-led challenge to state laws that allow some mail ballots to be counted after Election Day, leaving existing rules in place across more than half the country.
The decision preserves laws in more than 25 states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed ballots to arrive days after the election, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The ruling spares election officials from making major changes to ballot-counting procedures just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
The legal challenge was part of a broader Republican effort, backed by President Donald Trump, to restrict mail voting. Trump has repeatedly argued that widespread mail voting increases the risk of fraud, despite years of election experience and court findings showing no evidence of widespread fraud.
The decision preserves laws in more than 25 states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed ballots to arrive days after the election, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
The ruling spares election officials from making major changes to ballot-counting procedures just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
The legal challenge was part of a broader Republican effort, backed by President Donald Trump, to restrict mail voting. Trump has repeatedly argued that widespread mail voting increases the risk of fraud, despite years of election experience and court findings showing no evidence of widespread fraud.
