Overview
- In a 7–2 opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts, the Court held that candidates have a concrete, particularized interest to sue over how votes are counted in their own elections.
- The ruling reinstates Rep. Michael Bost’s 2022 challenge to Illinois’ policy counting mail ballots received up to 14 days after Election Day if postmarked by Election Day.
- Roberts rejected Illinois’ position that only candidates facing a substantial risk of losing may sue, calling that standard a "potential disaster."
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissented and warned the decision could destabilize election administration by encouraging more lawsuits.
- Legal analysts say the precedent could expand post‑election litigation and inject uncertainty in the days and weeks after future elections.