In a decision that could reverberate through upcoming elections, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that states cannot count mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The case emerged from Mississippi, where Republicans contested a state grace period allowing ballots to be counted for up to five days post-election. This ruling, while specifically impacting Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, raises questions about mail-in voting practices in nearly 20 states.
The appeals court’s conservative panel chose not to override Mississippi’s law directly, instead urging a lower court to determine the law’s fate, aiming to maintain existing rules until the presidential election on November 5. The high-stakes election pits Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris against Republican former President Donald Trump, with the control of Congress also on the line.
With this decision, Republicans claimed a victory for what they describe as “election integrity,” while many Democrats have yet to respond publicly. Mississippi’s Attorney General voiced respect for the ruling, signaling readiness for the next phase in the judicial process. This legal battle joins a broader clash over election policies, with dozens of lawsuits filed across various states in the run-up to November.
Federal law requires all ballots to align with a uniform Election Day, U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham noted in his opinion. He stated that Mississippi’s allowance of additional days was inconsistent with this requirement, underscoring a strict interpretation of voting deadlines.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, another judge halted the state’s attempt to remove unverified citizens from voter lists, citing a federal law that prevents large-scale voter purges within 90 days of an election. The ruling was met with pushback from Virginia’s governor, who has promised to appeal.
This judgment deepens the nation’s legal debates over voting policies, with eyes on how higher courts might interpret similar challenges leading up to the November elections.
