Supreme Court Upholds Mississippi Mail-in Ballot Grace Period Provision

Why it matters locally: While this ruling directly concerns Mississippi election law, it could establish a precedent that states like Louisiana might consider when reviewing their own mail-in ballot policies.

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a Mississippi law that establishes a grace period for mail-in ballots. The law allows election officials in the state to count ballots received up to five days after Election Day, provided they bear a postmark from Election Day. The ruling pertains specifically to Mississippi's election regulations. The state law outlines conditions for the acceptance of ballots submitted via mail, focusing on the date of mailing rather than the date of receipt as the primary determinant for timeliness within the specified window. The Court's decision maintains this existing state provision.