WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a major blow to President Donald Trump, ruling that election officials can count mail-in ballots that arrive late, even if they were postmarked by Election Day.
The justices rejected the Republican National Committee’s challenge in a 5-4 decision, ruling that the RNC’s challenge does not unlawfully conflict with federal law that sets Election Day in early November.
The ruling, authored by Trump-appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett, is a setback for the president, who has repeatedly slammed the mail-in voting process, saying without evidence that the process is rigged.
The Mississippi law and similar laws in 13 other states will remain in effect ahead of November’s midterm elections, when voters will decide which party controls the House and the Senate.
Trump posted to Truth Social following the decision, doubling down on his efforts to pass the SAVE America Act, which would completely overhaul elections in America.
“In light of the tremendous loss in the Supreme Court today concerning Voter’s Rights, and the fact that “people’s” votes are allowed to be counted LONG AFTER an Election is over, it is more important than ever to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” he wrote.
The Mississippi law allows mail-in ballots to be counted up to five days after Election Day as long as they were postmarked beforehand. California, New York and Texas are among the other states with such laws.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
