Supreme Court to consider deadlines for late-arriving mail ballots, as Trump continues attacks - CBS News

CBS News
March 22, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

Supreme Court will decide whether states can count mail ballots arriving after Election Day.

How This Affects You

The Court's ruling could change how your state counts mail-in votes in future elections, potentially affecting whether your late-arriving ballot is counted.

AI Summary

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case involving deadlines for mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, a voting procedure that has become a focal point of partisan debate. The case will likely address whether states can count ballots received days or weeks after polls close, a practice that varies significantly across the country and has drawn scrutiny from Republican-led challenges in recent election cycles. The decision comes as President Trump continues his public criticism of mail-voting procedures, which he has characterized as vulnerable to fraud—a claim not supported by widespread evidence. The Court's ruling could reshape how states handle late-arriving ballots and potentially affect future elections, particularly in closely contested races where mail-in voting plays a significant role. The justices' eventual decision will likely determine whether states maintain flexibility in counting procedures or must enforce tighter post-Election Day deadlines.

What's Being Done

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case and will issue a ruling that determines post-Election Day ballot counting procedures.

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