Trump's Challenge to Counting Late Mail-in Ballots Rejected by Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court has ruled that federal law does not prohibit states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked by that date. The 5-4 decision allows around 30 states to continue their practice of providing a grace period for late-arriving ballots.
In a significant setback for President Donald Trump, the court rejected arguments that federal laws require all votes to be in the possession of election officials by Election Day. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's liberal justices in the majority opinion, while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The ruling comes amid President Trump's efforts to limit mail-in voting, which he claims without evidence is prone to election fraud. Earlier this month, Trump criticized California's practice of counting ballots received up to a week after elections, accusing Democrats of trying to "steal" primary elections. The decision also follows a federal judge's block on Trump's executive order seeking to limit access to mail-in voting.
In a significant setback for President Donald Trump, the court rejected arguments that federal laws require all votes to be in the possession of election officials by Election Day. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court's liberal justices in the majority opinion, while Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh dissented.
The ruling comes amid President Trump's efforts to limit mail-in voting, which he claims without evidence is prone to election fraud. Earlier this month, Trump criticized California's practice of counting ballots received up to a week after elections, accusing Democrats of trying to "steal" primary elections. The decision also follows a federal judge's block on Trump's executive order seeking to limit access to mail-in voting.
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