US Supreme Court Gives Republican Congressman Green Light to Challenge Illinois Mail-in Ballot Law
In a 7-2 decision, the US Supreme Court has ruled that a Republican congressman from Illinois can proceed with his lawsuit challenging the state's mail-in ballot law. The law allows ballots to be counted if they are received after election day as long as they are postmarked by the deadline.
The case, which was brought by Representative Mike Bost, was seen as a strategic move by conservative Republicans who have been critical of mail-in voting. Bost argued that the law extended the electoral period beyond what is constitutionally allowed, effectively allowing for an extension of the election period.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that candidates have a vested interest in the integrity of the electoral process and should be able to challenge laws related to vote counting. He also noted that this interest extends beyond just personal gain or campaign costs.
However, two liberal justices dissented, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson arguing that political candidates should not receive special treatment when it comes to suing over election rules. She suggested that the court's decision could create a "bespoke rule" for candidate-plaintiffs, complicating the electoral process and undermining standing law.
The ruling has significant implications for mail-in voting in Illinois and beyond. Sixteen states already accept and count ballots received after the election date when postmarked on or before that day, while eight states send a mail-in ballot to every voter with the option of in-person voting.
President Donald Trump's efforts to restrict mail-in voting have faced challenges from various organizations, including the Brennan Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the League of Women Voters. The Illinois case was seen as part of these broader efforts to undermine the electoral process through litigation.
In a 7-2 decision, the US Supreme Court has ruled that a Republican congressman from Illinois can proceed with his lawsuit challenging the state's mail-in ballot law. The law allows ballots to be counted if they are received after election day as long as they are postmarked by the deadline.
The case, which was brought by Representative Mike Bost, was seen as a strategic move by conservative Republicans who have been critical of mail-in voting. Bost argued that the law extended the electoral period beyond what is constitutionally allowed, effectively allowing for an extension of the election period.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that candidates have a vested interest in the integrity of the electoral process and should be able to challenge laws related to vote counting. He also noted that this interest extends beyond just personal gain or campaign costs.
However, two liberal justices dissented, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson arguing that political candidates should not receive special treatment when it comes to suing over election rules. She suggested that the court's decision could create a "bespoke rule" for candidate-plaintiffs, complicating the electoral process and undermining standing law.
The ruling has significant implications for mail-in voting in Illinois and beyond. Sixteen states already accept and count ballots received after the election date when postmarked on or before that day, while eight states send a mail-in ballot to every voter with the option of in-person voting.
President Donald Trump's efforts to restrict mail-in voting have faced challenges from various organizations, including the Brennan Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the League of Women Voters. The Illinois case was seen as part of these broader efforts to undermine the electoral process through litigation.