Supreme Court upholds Mississippi law allowing late mail‑in ballots

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 5‑4 decision upholding Mississippi’s law that permits mail‑in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five business days after the election. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the majority opinion, joining liberal justices, while Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kavanaugh also voted to uphold the statute. The dissent was penned by Justice Samuel Alito and joined by Justices Thomas, Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.

The law, enacted as an emergency measure during the COVID‑19 pandemic and later made permanent, had been challenged by the Republican National Committee, the Mississippi Republican Party and a voter who argued that federal election statutes require ballots to be received on Election Day. The Court held that federal law governs when a vote is cast, not when the ballot is received, allowing states to set their own receipt deadlines.

The ruling leaves Mississippi’s five‑day grace period intact and signals that similar state provisions may withstand future federal challenges.