The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a closely divided decision Monday that could have lasting implications for election administration across the country, ruling that federal law does not require mailed ballots to arrive by Election Day in order to be counted.
In a narrow 5-4 ruling, the nation’s highest court concluded that states may continue enforcing laws allowing certain absentee ballots to be counted after Election Day, provided they were mailed on time under state law. The decision marks a setback for Republicans who argued that federal election statutes require all ballots to be received before Election Day concludes.
The legal challenge was brought by the Republican National Committee alongside the Libertarian Party of Mississippi. The plaintiffs argued that Mississippi’s election law conflicted with federal statutes because it permits election officials to count absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive as many as five days afterward.
