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NewsNBC Los Angeles (KNBC) – PoliticsJune 29, 2026United States

Supreme Court Upholds State Laws Allowing Late-Arriving Mail Ballots

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states may continue to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive shortly after. The decision preserves existing election rules in over half of U.S. states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

electionsvoting rightsSupreme Courtmail-in ballots
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Why It Matters

This ruling maintains the current ability of voters in more than 25 states and D.C. to have their ballots counted if they are postmarked by Election Day but arrive after, preventing a major shift in election administration procedures before the 2026 midterms.

Key Facts

  • The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states can count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day even if they arrive after Election Day.
  • The ruling affects laws in more than half of U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
  • The decision specifically upheld Mississippi's law, which allows ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election.
  • The Court determined that federal election-day statutes do not preempt state laws because a voter's choice is considered made when the ballot is cast, not when it is received.
  • 15 states currently have longer deadlines for military and overseas voters.
  • 13 states currently have grace periods for ballots cast by mail.
  • Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah removed their grace periods for late-arriving ballots last year.
  • The ruling prevents a major change in election administration rules just months before the 2026 midterm elections.
  • The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had previously struck down the Mississippi law, a decision now overturned by the Supreme Court.

Who's Mentioned

personDonald Trump“President who challenged the legality of late-arriving ballots.”organizationNational Conference of State Legislatures“Organization tracking state election laws.”personAndrew Oldham“Appellate judge who previously ruled the Mississippi law unconstitutional.”organizationRepublican National Committee“Party organization that challenged the Mississippi law.”personSonia Sotomayor“Justice who argued that election regulations should be decided by states and Con”locationMississippi“The state whose election law was the subject of the Supreme Court case.”personScott Stewart“Mississippi Solicitor General who argued the case.”organizationVoting Rights Lab“Organization tracking state election laws.”organizationMississippi Republican Party“Party organization that challenged the Mississippi law.”personAmy Coney Barrett“Justice who wrote the majority opinion.”personJohn G. Roberts Jr.“Chief Justice who joined the majority opinion.”organizationSupreme Court“The judicial body that issued the 5-4 ruling.”personSamuel Alito“Justice who expressed skepticism regarding late-arriving ballots.”