Supreme Court Upholds Mail-In Ballot Grace Period | Seattle News

The Supreme Court just cleared the way for mail-in ballots to still be counted if they’re postmarked by Election Day—even if they arrive a few days later. In a major ruling upholding Washington’s five-day grace period, the court, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, emphasized that federal law values when a vote is cast, not when it physically arrives. While dissenters like Justice Alito argued for a stricter deadline, the majority stressed this buffer ensures every timely vote counts. The case, sparked in Mississippi, now sets a precedent for 18 other states and territories with similar rules. Election officials still urge voters to mail ballots at least a week early—or drop them off by 8 PM on Election Day—to avoid any risk. 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/6e58f7e1411bcb0a