Court Strikes Down Mississippi Law Allowing Late Mail-In Ballots

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has made a big ruling that will impact elections. The court struck down a Mississippi law that allowed mail-in ballots to be counted if received up to five days after election day. This decision could change how states handle future elections.

The case, called the Republican National Committee versus Wetzel, involved the Mississippi Republican and Libertarian parties and two individuals. They sued Mississippi officials over a law that let mail-in ballots be counted even if they arrived late, as long as they were sent by election day. The plaintiffs argued that this law was unconstitutional, saying ballots should be counted only if received by election day.

This case is important because many states changed election rules during the pandemic. Some states allowed ballots to be received after election day to make voting easier. Mississippi kept this rule even after the pandemic ended. The plaintiffs believe this rule goes against the U.S. Constitution, which they say requires ballots to be both cast and received by election day.

Judge Andrew Oldham, who wrote the decision, is known for ruling in other important cases. He and two other judges on the panel agreed with the plaintiffs. They said the Mississippi law did not follow the Constitution's election law clause. This clause says that states must follow federal rules for elections.

The ruling means Mississippi has to change how it handles mail-in ballots. Other states with similar rules may also need to change their laws. This could lead to more court cases as other states look at their own election laws.

This decision comes right before an upcoming election. It has people talking about how this could impact voting in the future. It highlights a balancing act between making voting accessible and following constitutional rules.

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