Fifth Circuit Rules Mississippi Cannot Count Late Mail Ballots After RNC Lawsuit

Oct 25, 2024, 11:10 PM

A U.S. federal appeals court ruled that Mississippi's law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days later violates federal law stipulating that elections occur on a single day. The decision by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, states that ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, overriding state laws that extend deadlines for mail-in ballots. The ruling, issued by a panel of Trump-appointed judges in response to a Republican National Committee lawsuit, emphasized that 'Congress statutorily designated a singular day for the election.' The ruling could have implications for other states with similar laws, potentially affecting 18 states and the District of Columbia that accept mail-in ballots after Election Day. However, the court noted that the decision would not affect the upcoming election, as early voting has already begun.