Supreme Court weighs whether to allow grace periods for mail ballots
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging the legality of grace periods in 14 states that allow mail-in ballots to be received and counted days or weeks after Election Day, with potential nationwide implications for 29 states that have similar provisions for some voters.
- Supporters of grace periods argue that these rules prevent voter disenfranchisement and accommodate postal delays, especially for military and overseas voters, while opponents, including the Republican National Committee and some state officials, claim that counting ballots after Election Day undermines election integrity.
- Several states, including Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota, and Utah, have recently eliminated or shortened grace periods in anticipation of a possible adverse Supreme Court ruling, which could disrupt absentee voting procedures just months before the mid
