Federal Appeals Court Rules Against Mississippi Mail Ballot Law

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that Mississippi's law allowing mail-in ballots to be received up to five days after Election Day is invalid, emphasizing that federal law mandates ballots must be both cast and received by Election Day. This decision, which comes just before the November 5 presidential election, could impact similar laws in around 20 states and is seen as a victory for the Republican National Committee (RNC), which had challenged the law. The court's ruling highlights that Congress has designated a specific day for elections, and any state law permitting late ballot counting interferes with this federal mandate. The RNC claims this ruling preserves election integrity and prevents the dilution of valid votes by late arrivals. While the court did not provide immediate remedies for the upcoming election, it maintains that ballots must be received on Election Day, which could lead to significant changes in how states handle mail-in voting in future elections.