Mail Ballot Rejection Risk Looms Amid Court Case and Rules

President Donald Trump’s efforts to overhaul U.S. elections have largely faced legal setbacks. However, his administration and allies have successfully tightened rules regarding mail ballots received after Election Day.

4 Red States Have Changed Mail Ballot Deadlines

Since the 2024 election, four Republican-controlled states—Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah—have changed their laws to require mail ballots to be received by Election Day. Other states are considering similar changes, including West Virginia. In 2024, Ohio and Kansas had relatively few voters utilizing the grace period, with 7,579 and 2,110 ballots, respectively, received and counted after Election Day. Voter education efforts are underway in these states to encourage earlier ballot returns, potentially reducing the number of affected voters. Local election officials in Ohio are anticipating increased strain on election offices due to the new deadline.

Postmark Delays Could Affect Mail Ballots

Fifteen jurisdictions still allow mail ballots arriving after Election Day as long as they are postmarked by then. Recent changes to U.S. Postal Service procedures have raised concerns about mail potentially being postmarked on a day later than it was dropped off. While the Postal Service maintains this doesn’t change existing operations, lags have become more common. Data suggests that in states like Mississippi, Oregon, and Washington, a small percentage of ballots arrive after Election Day with valid postmarks. However, in states like Illinois and California, the number is higher, affecting approximately 2-3% of voters. Voter education campaigns are being implemented to encourage earlier ballot returns or the use of drop boxes.

The Supreme Court Could Require Ballots to Arrive on Election Day

A pending U.S. Supreme Court case challenges Mississippi’s law allowing properly postmarked ballots to be counted within five business days of Election Day. Opponents argue this conflicts with federal law. If the court rules against Mississippi, it could ban the counting of all ballots received after Election Day nationwide. This would impact a small percentage of ballots, potentially more than in Kansas and Ohio, and would likely necessitate voter re-education campaigns in affected states.