Supreme Court skeptical of laws counting mail-in ballots after election day
Quick Insights
The Bottom Line
Supreme Court signals it may ban counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, forcing states to change voting procedures.
How This Affects You
Your mail-in ballot could be rejected if it arrives after Election Day, even if mailed on time, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters in 2026.
AI Summary
The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case testing whether states can count ballots mailed before Election Day but arriving after polls close. The justices' skepticism during oral arguments suggested they may be inclined to restrict or prohibit such post-election-day counting. A ruling could force states to either count only ballots received by Election Day or establish new ballot-handling procedures nationwide. The decision will likely come before the 2026 election cycle.
What's Being Done
The Supreme Court is deliberating the case with a ruling expected before the 2026 election cycle.
Source Coverage Map
10 of 43 tracked sources covered this story
Following this story?
Get notified when new coverage appears
Other Sources Covering This Story
5 sourcesMultiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.
This article is part of a story we're tracking:
Should this be getting more attention?
You Might Have Missed
Related stories from different sources and perspectives
PoliticsLISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court considers late-arriving mail ballot laws in case that may affect midterms
Voters in 14 states who cast their votes by mail have been given a grace period ranging from a day later to several weeks in which their ballots can be received and counted. Whether that extra time should be allowed is at the heart of a case that will be argued Monday before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Civil RightsSupreme Court revives Mississippi evangelist’s challenge to protest ordinance
The Supreme Court on Friday revived a Mississippi evangelist’s challenge to a city protest ordinance he was previously convicted of violating, making it easier for people to challenge laws they were convicted under to bar future prosecution. Gabriel Olivier, a Christian street preacher, had asked the justices to let his lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of an ordinance…
PoliticsCalifornia sheriff running for governor seizes more than a half million ballots from 2025 election - CNN
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTFBEMjByeGFrbmFwcTZyamYwcUMyRURkTWVZbURwVU96MEVsdDh5QzZ0TXExRnZTYnJNNm9ZX3dYMHNtaWFTdk9FUEU4bVZYMTg0cGxPVEVralJrOU1NcUhCaDd2MzNVSzRRWktZVjRwWEZqNEY3bGducE9sRGFSOW8?oc=5" target="_blank">California sheriff running for governor seizes more than a half million ballots from 2025 election</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">CNN</font><strong><a href="https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoRUtEd2o1bWJqZ0VCRzVXalFTRlpRbHVpZ0FQAQ?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&oc=5" target="_blank">View Full Coverage on Google News</a></strong>
PoliticsCalifornia sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in defiance of state officials over election count dispute - New York Post
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxPT0hQNGlIZXNOemtBMXJlOWRrMmtHZ3Z4bnEwc3MzY3lzdlZIRDY0Y2J0QkIzcWVrZS1YR2gwSXUyRkhHa0lENWFsRXpsS2E0STY2WkpadzFIMU1BVENUR2VKa1ktY2lnbWJDVjF1SUdRcFczUlJHSVFHa211ZVZ5MERhaVAyWkJFRmpVUlhvcEREV3I0SlBWYnBEOGdudk82bUJPSmtndU5BQU0?oc=5" target="_blank">California sheriff seizes 650,000 ballots in defiance of state officials over election count dispute</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">New York Post</font><strong><a href="https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoRUtEd2o1bWJqZ0VCR0NEXzBDYmFha2JTZ0FQAQ?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&oc=5" target="_blank">View Full Coverage on Google News</a></strong>
PoliticsMany states count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. Those grace periods could go away - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxQVDNBRDJreFdDNWpNQWpVTlZfQzZBak1RZUg0NjBxeEpjbTNKNmRCRUVaaldZU0Z0YUtZS0ZJZ0x0NGZNRHdjc3g3UEE0dEJOSXR3ZHY1TzNhVVl5dDVaTzBVcmFtYlJOSkVua3lvQWxZMkpCWjdpcjdYTkQyUVJRbTZ3Q1k2ZGxncmpYSGt4akFUUnRJclVvSjhhbVFVY0ZwdDA4eTd1UV9ScnFtOERPVA?oc=5" target="_blank">Many states count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. Those grace periods could go away</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
Politics2 ex-FBI agents say in a lawsuit they were fired for their roles in Trump election investigation - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxOV0QyaDk3aGdFTUxmc05iN0M0YkNwb1A4NmlXdU9XZ0pBQW9DVjFDcmY5Wms3aXJJS0V3TnZlX1lXeDIyZGxXYTVFbXpleWVHdjVYV2prUGRUeURDYUhTYzgxX2dsY1J6bmd6WkVEbExTUHNFcFBpamEyTi1wNEhwRzhrdVItNExoRmRPWE9maXdrVC1TNk1qSklnNGpVM25leU04cXpkZw?oc=5" target="_blank">2 ex-FBI agents say in a lawsuit they were fired for their roles in Trump election investigation</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
California sheriff running for governor seizes more than a half million ballots from 2025 election - CNN
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTFBEMjByeGFrbmFwcTZyamYwcUMyRURkTWVZbURwVU96MEVsdDh5QzZ0TXExRnZTYnJNNm9ZX3dYMHNtaWFTdk9FUEU4bVZYMTg0cGxPVEVralJrOU1NcUhCaDd2MzNVSzRRWktZVjRwWEZqNEY3bGducE9sRGFSOW8?oc=5" target="_blank">California sheriff running for governor seizes more than a half million ballots from 2025 election</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">CNN</font><strong><a href="https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZjbmt0TXpZd1NoRUtEd2o1bWJqZ0VCRzVXalFTRlpRbHVpZ0FQAQ?hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en&oc=5" target="_blank">View Full Coverage on Google News</a></strong>
Did this story change how you see things?
Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.
The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.
See our sourcesMost Read This Week
Fentanyl found inside Barbies sold at Missouri discount store, police say
White House registers new ‘alien’-related .gov domains as DOD tackles Trump’s disclosure directive
Kash Patel admits under oath FBI is buying location data on Americans
US moves to soften capital rules: ‘Big banks can declare mission accomplished’
The West's historic snow drought could bring water shortages, wildfires
