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NewsNBC 6 South Florida (WTVJ) – PoliticsJune 29, 2026United States

Supreme Court Upholds State Laws Allowing Late-Arriving Mail Ballots

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

electionsvoting rightsSupreme Courtmail-in ballots
Read the full story at NBC 6 South Florida (WTVJ) – Politics

Why It Matters

This decision maintains the current legal status for voters in more than 25 states who rely on s for mail-in ballots to be counted, 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 the election.
  • The ruling applies to more than half of U.S. states and the District of Columbia that currently have grace periods for mail-in ballots.
  • The decision specifically upheld Mississippi's law allowing 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 received.
  • 15 states maintain longer deadlines specifically for military and overseas voters.
  • Four states—Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah—eliminated their grace periods for mail-in ballots last year.
  • The ruling overturns a previous decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had declared Mississippi's grace period unconstitutional.
  • The decision prevents a major change in election administration rules just months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections.

Who's Mentioned

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