Supreme Court shows support for Trump push to limit mail-in ballots

The Supreme Court's conservative majority seemed skeptical of late-arriving ballots. The case could lead to stricter rules in this year's midterm elections.

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court could back a Republican effort to stop states from counting late-arriving mail-in ballots, a decision that would be a win for President Donald Trump and would lead to stricter voting rules around the country.

During more than two hours of oral arguments on March 23, the court’s conservative majority sounded skeptical of a Mississippi law allowing ballots cast by Election Day to be counted if they’re received within five days.

Justice Samuel Alito said not having a firm deadline raises many other questions, including how long a grace period can be and whether ballots have to be postmarked.

"You have a variety of line-drawing problems," he told Mississippi's attorney.

But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, one of the court’s three liberal justices, said it’s up to Congress and the states – not the court – to make such decisions. And the fact that Congress is considering legislation to end grace periods shows lawmakers think they’re currently allowed.