The US Supreme Court heard arguments Monday regarding a Mississippi law concerning mail-in ballots, a case with potential implications for voting rules across the country. The case, Watson v Republican National Committee, centers on whether ballots arriving after election day should be counted if postmarked on or before that date.
The court signaled a divide as justices considered Republican arguments to require ballots arrive by election day. Concerns were raised about the impact on early voting practices, while conservative justices expressed sympathy for the GOP’s position.
The case could affect election deadlines in as many as 29 states, including 13 beyond Mississippi and the District of Columbia, potentially leading to stricter voting rules. The court appeared poised to side with the challenge against counting late-arriving ballots.