United States Supreme Court makes ruling on mail-in ballots

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a closely divided ruling on Monday that could affect how mail-in ballots are counted in elections across the country.

In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that states may count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive afterward, upholding a Mississippi law that allows ballots to be received up to five business days after the election.

The case stemmed from a challenge brought by the Republican National Committee, which argued that federal law requires ballots to be received by Election Day. The court disagreed, finding that federal law sets a deadline for casting ballots but does not require them to be received by election officials on that day.

Following the ruling, President Donald Trump criticized the decision while speaking with reporters.

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

Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the court’s majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the three liberal justices.

The ruling leaves Kentucky’s current absentee voting law unchanged. Under state law, mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted. Any changes to that deadline would require action by the Kentucky General Assembly.