Supreme Court allows late-arriving mail-in ballots in defeat for Trump

June 29, 2026

The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold state laws permitting mail-in ballots postmarked by election day to be counted even if they arrive up to five days later, rejecting the Trump administration's challenge to Mississippi's ballot deadline. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and three liberal justices, arguing that federal election law addresses only the election date itself, not ballot receipt deadlines. President Trump strongly criticized the decision, calling it detrimental to election integrity and continuing his unsubstantiated claims about mail-in ballot fraud.

Who is affected

President Donald Trump and his administration
Voters in more than a dozen states that allow late-arriving postal ballots (including Alaska, Texas, Nevada, Virginia, and California)
The Republican National Committee and its chairman Joe Gruters
Democratic-leaning states and some Republican-led jurisdictions with ballot grace periods
Congressional candidates in the upcoming November midterm elections
Mississippi (whose law was specifically challenged)
Justices Amy Coney Barrett, John Roberts, the three liberal justices, and dissenting Justice Samuel Alito

What action is being taken

President Trump is calling on lawmakers to pass the Save America Act
The Republican National Committee is continuing to fight against post-election day ballot counting
Trump is withholding his signature from a bipartisan housing bill until the Save America Act is passed

Why it matters

This ruling is significant because it settles a major legal dispute about ballot deadlines that could affect election outcomes in over a dozen states during the November midterm elections, which will determine Congressional control. The decision represents a major political defeat for Trump's ongoing campaign against mail-in voting and his unsubstantiated fraud allegations. By affirming that states can set their own ballot receipt deadlines as long as ballots are postmarked by election day, the Court has resolved an important question about how federal election day statutes interact with state election procedures, protecting voting access for citizens who rely on mail-in ballots while maintaining existing state practices.

What's next

Trump is calling on lawmakers to pass the Save America Act, which would mandate photo ID and proof of citizenship while banning most mail-in ballots
The Republican National Committee stated it will continue fighting to have elections end on election day
Trump will only sign the bipartisan housing bill if the Save America Act is passed

Read full article from source: BBC