Supreme Court Upholds States' Right to Count Late-Arriving Mail Ballots

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on June 29 in Watson v. Republican National Committee that states may accept mail-in ballots in federal races after Election Day. The decision protects existing post-Election Day receipt windows in approximately 30 states, including Mississippi, which accepts ballots up to five business days late. The RNC had argued federal Election Day law preempted such extensions; the Court disagreed, preserving administrative flexibility ahead of the 2026 midterms.