Supreme Court Upholds Mail Ballot Grace Period | Jackson News

The Supreme Court just ruled that states can count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day—even if they arrive later—as long as they’re received within a grace period. This decision reverses a Mississippi appeals court ruling that had struck down a five-day extension for absentee ballots, reinstating the rule for federal elections. While Governor Tate Reeves wants to scrap the COVID-era law and require ballots to be received by 5 PM on Election Day, voter advocacy groups like the Mississippi Center for Justice and Mississippi MOVE hail the ruling as a victory for accessibility, especially for elderly and disabled voters. The Southern Poverty Law Center noted that such postmark-based rules have historical precedent, dating back to the Civil War era. The ruling ensures that voters who mailed ballots on time won’t lose their votes simply because delivery was delayed—upholding both voter access and ballot integrity. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/758c85f51f89c336