The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving up to five business days later is legal [1].
This decision maintains current voting procedures in several states, rejecting efforts by Republican leadership to tighten the window for ballot reception. The ruling arrives amid ongoing national debates over election integrity and the legality of extended counting periods.
The decision, issued June 29, 2024 [3], affects 14 states that allow post-election-day counting of postmarked ballots [1]. The case was brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Mississippi Republican Party, who argued that the practice violated federal law regarding the definition of Election Day [1].
The court found that state statutes allowing this grace period do not conflict with federal law [1]. In addition to the 14 states with broad postmark rules, another 12 states allow the same practice specifically for military and overseas voters [2].
President Donald Trump criticized the ruling as the U.S. prepares for upcoming elections [1]. The RNC and Mississippi GOP had sought to eliminate the window to prevent what they described as potential vulnerabilities in the voting process [1].
The court's refusal to strike down these statutes ensures that voters in the affected states can still have their ballots counted if they face postal delays, provided the ballot was sent by the legal deadline [1].
“The Supreme Court ruled that counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving up to five business days later is legal.”
This ruling reinforces the authority of individual states to set their own ballot receipt deadlines, provided they do not directly contradict federal mandates. By upholding the five-day window, the Court prevents a sudden shift in voting rules that could have disenfranchised thousands of voters relying on the postal service. However, the decision also ensures that the legal battle over 'Election Day' definitions remains a point of contention for the RNC and its allies.
