The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit from Republican officials challenging the validity of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. This ruling poses a significant setback for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as they seek to gain momentum ahead of the November midterm elections.
On June 29, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Mississippi Republican Party, which had filed a lawsuit regarding state mail-in voting laws from 2024. The court upheld Mississippi law, which allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within five business days after the election.
Currently, 14 states in the U.S. consider mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day as valid. The Supreme Court's decision is expected to reduce controversy surrounding mail-in voting.
The ruling included dissenting opinions from three liberal justices, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, both of whom are considered conservative. In her opinion, Barrett stated, "The election-related statutes do not mention the receipt of ballots, and we cannot add to the text chosen by Congress."
However, Justice Samuel Alito, representing the four dissenting conservative justices, warned that allowing ballots to arrive after Election Day could undermine public confidence in the fairness of elections. Trump has frequently cited mail-in voting as a reason for his loss in the 2020 presidential election, arguing that states should halt mail-in voting.
Following the ruling, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his discontent, stating, "Today, the Supreme Court suffered a tremendous defeat regarding voter rights, and in light of the fact that counting 'the people's' votes will be allowed long after the election, the passage of the 'SAVE AMERICA ACT' is more important than ever." He added that the proposed legislation would require all voters to present photo identification and proof of citizenship, while banning mail-in voting.
Most states that allow mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day lean Democratic, leading to perceptions that mail-in voting benefits the Democratic Party. Thus, the Supreme Court's ruling is seen as a painful blow to Trump and the Republicans ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. BBC noted, "This ruling represents a significant political defeat for Donald Trump," stating it will impact voting deadlines in several key states that will play a crucial role in determining which party controls Congress after the November elections. CNN also characterized the ruling as a "loss for Trump and the Republican Party ahead of the midterms."
Trump Faces '1 Win, 3 Losses' at Supreme Court
In a separate case on the same day, the Supreme Court also dismissed Trump's request to overturn a $5 million judgment related to sexual assault and defamation claims brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll. Trump had been found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll, resulting in the damages awarded against him.
Conversely, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Trump regarding his dismissal of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This ruling affirmed the president's broad authority over independent regulatory agencies, marking a victory for Trump. However, the court ruled 5-4 that Trump’s dismissal of Lisa Cook, a Federal Reserve Board member, would not take effect while the case is pending, creating an exception for Fed appointments.
Thus, as multiple cases involving Trump unfolded at the Supreme Court, BBC remarked, "Trump experienced a dramatic day with one significant victory and three losses."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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