Supreme Court Case Could Tighten Voting Deadlines

0:00It's March 24th. This is Canada News today, AI-powered stories from your city. The Supreme Court heard arguments this week on a case that could block states from counting mail ballots arriving after election day, even if postmarked on time. The Republican National Committee and Libertarian Party challenged Mississippi's five-day grace period, and similar rules exist in Nevada and 13. Other states. Fifteen more states offer grace periods just for military and overseas voters. Conservative justices seem doubtful about these extensions during the nearly two-hour session. Election officials like Nevada's Democratic Secretary of State, Cisco Aguilar, are already planning for a possible June ruling that would tighten. Deadlines for November's midterms. They worry a sudden change would scramble long-term preparations since most materials like flyers, signs, and ballot envelopes are printed months ahead to cut costs. Administrators say reprinsing everything and educating voters so close to the vote is

1:01nearly impossible. Nobody budgeted for it, and rural areas with slow mail face the biggest hit. In Nevada, for instance, 98% of mail ballots arrived by election day and 95% of the rest show up the next day. States like Alaska rely on 10-day windows due to vast distances. It's a point to the Purcell Principle, a court guideline from a past Arizona case that warns against rule changes to near elections. It aims to prevent confusion and disenfranchisement. Officials in places like Illinois and Massachusetts stress they can't pivot quickly, especially with fixed schedules for sending ballots. A decision in June could still force last minute fixes, risking voter turnout drops among those with slower mail delivery and leaving election teams. In a tough spot as midterms approach.