The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday upheld a Mississippi law allowing election officials to count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days later. The 5-4 decision rejected a challenge by the Republican National Committee. It preserves practices used in about 18 states and territories.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's three liberal justices. She wrote that federal election-day statutes require voters to make their choice on Election Day but do not set a deadline for ballot receipt. "The election-day statutes say nothing about ballot receipt, and we cannot add to the words Congress chose," Barrett stated.
Justice Samuel Alito dissented, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh in part. Alito warned that the ruling "creates a serious risk of further undermining public confidence in our elections." He argued it opens opportunities for fraud.
President Donald Trump called the decision a "tremendous loss" on Truth Social and renewed his push for the SAVE America Act. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters said the ruling makes it "more imperative that Congress pass the SAVE America Act." Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves urged his state legislature to repeal the law.
