Court weighs mail-ballot deadlines as Trump seeks to shrink vote-by-mail

The Supreme Court is hearing a GOP challenge to states’ post-Election Day mail-ballot receipt deadlines, tied to Donald Trump’s broader push to curb mail voting. The case questions whether federal election statutes forbid late ballot receipts, a tactic echoed by Trump’s executive orders and threats of lawsuits that pressured states to move deadlines. The DOJ’s position has shifted—from supporting Mississippi to arguing at the Court against some deadlines—while several states have already shortened or eliminated grace periods. With a ruling expected by June, the decision could reshape how states run mail voting and influence upcoming elections, potentially fueling Trump’s political backlash if the Court rules against such deadlines.