Court Finds Mississippi's Mail-In Voting Law Conflicts with Federal Deadline

The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that a Mississippi law allowing ballots mailed in within five days after the election to be counted violates federal law. The decision was made on Friday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is composed of three conservative judges. This ruling challenges mail-in voting procedures used in approximately 20 states.

Considering the significance of the upcoming November 5 election, the court did not block the Mississippi law. This election is crucial as it will determine the majority in Congress and whether Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will win the presidency.

The lawsuit against the Mississippi law was initiated in January by the Republican National Committee, the Mississippi Republican Party, and two Republican electors regarding a law passed by the state's Republican-led legislature in 2020. The state's Libertarian Party also filed a similar legal challenge.

U.S. Circuit Judge Andrew Oldham, appointed by former President Trump, noted in the ruling that federal law designates a single day for elections and does not allow for the extension of the voting period beyond that day. Judge Oldham emphasized that under federal law, voters must complete their voting process by Election Day without any extensions.