U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Review Mississippi Voting Case
The dispute centers on a Mississippi law that counts mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within five business days. Plaintiffs from Donald Trump’s Republican Party contend the policy breaches federal law, which mandates that presidential elections conclude on Election Day. Trump has long criticized mail-in voting, claiming extended deadlines favor Democrats, despite the method’s widespread use across the United States.
In October 2024, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the law, ruling that all mail-in ballots must be both sent and received by Election Day to comply with federal standards. The court emphasized that the process must achieve “finality” on that date, rather than continuing while ballots are still arriving.
Five judges dissented, warning that the ruling “runs counter to traditional tools of statutory interpretation” and could jeopardize similar voting rules in at least 28 states.
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson defended the law, asserting that the term “election” refers only to the act of casting ballots, not the administrative counting process.
Arguments before the Supreme Court are expected next spring. Observers say the decision could reshape the balance of federal and state authority over ballot deadlines, an issue that has gained prominence since the surge in mail-in voting during the 2020 pandemic.
The ruling could also influence next year’s midterm elections, with one-third of the Senate and all House of Representatives seats at stake. With Republicans currently controlling both chambers, Democrats are seeking enough anti-Trump voters to reclaim at least one house and challenge Trump’s second term ambitions.
Restrictions on mail-in voting, however, may hinder Democrats’ efforts.
Republicans claim mail-in voting is prone to fraud but have presented little evidence to substantiate this. Democrats argue that opposition to mail-in voting is part of a long-standing Republican effort to suppress turnout, particularly among minority voters.
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