Supreme Court tackles dispute over mail-in ballots ahead of November elections

Supreme Court to hear arguments in a mail-in voting case, weighing whether states can count ballots that arrive after Election Day.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday delves into the issue of mail-in voting, weighing whether states can count ballots that are mailed on time but arrive after Election Day.

The justices will hear arguments as President Donald Trump has ramped up his opposition to mail-in voting and urged Congress to ban it in most cases.

The court is considering a Mississippi law, similar to measures in 13 other states, that allow for mail-in ballots to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day. The case could have implications for the midterm elections this November, when voters will decide which party controls the House and Senate.

California, New York and Texas are among the states with comparable laws to Mississippi’s. Eligibility for mail-in ballots differs among those states, with Mississippi limiting it to a list that includes elderly and disabled people.

If the court were to strike down the Mississippi statute, it would upend election rules in the affected states, as well as potentially for people who live overseas, including members of the military. In total, 29 states allow extended deadlines for voters abroad and the military, according to a brief filed by former national security officials.