Federal Court Rules Against Mississippi's Mail-In Ballot Law

A federal appeals court decision challenges Mississippi's allowance of counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, potentially influencing future election laws.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Mississippi's law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted if received up to five days after Election Day conflicts with federal law.
The decision does not immediately impact the upcoming November 5 election, as the ruling is not returned to the lower court until after the election date.
The court's ruling could set a precedent affecting similar laws in other states, including swing states like Nevada, which have similar mail-in ballot provisions.
The Republican National Committee, which challenged the Mississippi law, hailed the decision as a victory for election integrity, emphasizing the need for ballots to be received by Election Day.
Legal experts, including UCLA law professor Richard Hasen, criticized the ruling, noting that other courts have previously rejected similar arguments.