Trump judges rule Mississippi violates federal law on mail ballots

In the United States, a panel of three judges from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Mississippi's practice of counting mail ballots arriving after Election Day violates federal law. The ruling, announced on a Friday, is seen as favorable to the Republican National Committee, which had challenged the state’s mail-in voting policies. Although the panel did not impose an immediate block on the current election’s procedures, it signaled potential implications for ongoing and future voting-related lawsuits across various states. Voting rights advocates expressed concern that this ruling could bolster efforts to challenge mail-in ballots in other jurisdictions, particularly in critical races where margins are tight. It highlighted a broader debate regarding the definition of an election's conclusion, with the judges emphasizing that ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, reflecting a strict interpretation of the law. This ruling may enhance the momentum for Republican challenges against states with similar late ballot acceptance policies, such as Nevada and California, which could significantly influence upcoming congressional elections.