Trump Criticizes Supreme Court for Mail Ballot Decision

Why it matters locally: The Supreme Court's decision to decline this case directly impacts election law in Pennsylvania, solidifying the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's previous ruling on mail-in ballot deadlines for future elections unless state law is changed.

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Former President Donald Trump on Monday criticized the Supreme Court after the court declined to hear a case that sought to overturn a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision. The Pennsylvania ruling had allowed the counting of mail-in ballots received up to three days after Election Day in 2020. The Supreme Court's decision essentially left the state court's ruling in place. Trump issued a statement indicating his disappointment with the Supreme Court's action. He stated the refusal to hear the case made it more challenging for Republicans to secure electoral victories. The former president also asserted that Republican voters were less inclined to use mail-in ballots compared to Democratic voters. The case originated from a challenge filed by Republican members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and other plaintiffs. They argued that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overstepped its authority by extending the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots. The plaintiffs contended that the state legislature, not the judiciary, held the constitutional power to set election rules. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to take up the appeal means it will not revisit the specific issue of the extended ballot receipt deadline from the 2020 election. Three conservative justices, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch, indicated they would have heard the case. Justice Thomas wrote a dissenting opinion, stating the case presented an opportunity to clarify the role of state courts in federal elections. He expressed concern that state courts could potentially alter election rules established by state legislatures. Justice Thomas emphasized the need for clear rules governing federal elections. In his statement, Trump also referenced the 2020 election results in Pennsylvania, which President Joe Biden won. He called the election results in the state "rigged" and attributed the outcome to "radical rulings" by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.