Supreme Court mulls limiting mail-in ballots, forcing states to prepare for changes

The Supreme Court is considering whether to uphold a Mississippi law that counts mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five business days later, with a ruling potentially affecting how more than a dozen states handle mail voting. The case centers on whether states can extend ballot-counting deadlines beyond Election Day itself, a practice adopted by multiple states to accommodate mail delays. If the Court sides with Mississippi's more restrictive approach, it could force states to tighten their mail-in ballot rules ahead of upcoming elections. States are already preparing contingency plans for the possibility that grace periods for late-arriving ballots will be eliminated or curtailed. The decision could reshape mail-voting procedures nationwide and potentially impact voter participation, particularly for those relying on postal delivery during tight election cycles.