Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jun 30: The US Supreme Court on Monday issued a closely divided ruling that could impact mail-in ballot counting rules across the country, allowing states to count ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive afterward.

In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld a Mississippi law permitting election officials to accept mail-in ballots received up to five business days after Election Day, ruling that federal law does not require ballots to reach officials on the same day.

The case was brought by the Republican National Committee (RNC), which argued that federal law required all ballots to be received by Election Day. However, the court rejected the argument, stating that federal law sets a deadline for voters to cast their ballots but does not impose a nationwide requirement for when election officials must receive them.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion, which was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court’s three liberal justices.

Reacting to the ruling, President Donald Trump criticised the decision while speaking to reporters, saying it could allow more time for illegal voting.

“Well, because of the mail-in ballot ruling, which was a little bit surprising, it gives people more time to vote illegally,” Trump said.

The ruling does not change Kentucky’s existing absentee voting rules. Under Kentucky law, mail-in absentee ballots must reach the county clerk’s office before the close of polls on Election Day to be counted.

Any change to the deadline for receiving absentee ballots in Kentucky would require approval from the state legislature.