Morning Note
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Supreme Court Says Election Day Can Drag on Past Election Night
A recent poll found that 83% of likely U.S. voters believe states should receive mail-in ballots no later than Election Day. That overwhelming majority of Americans received disheartening news on Monday.
The Supreme Court has ruled that vote counters may continue to tally mail-in ballots that officials receive up to five days after Election Day, determining that federal election statutes “simply regulate the time of the election,” but “say nothing about ballot receipt.” Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion ruling, which sparked widespread conservative wrath.
Donald Trump slammed the decision shortly after its release, saying it “gives people more time to vote illegally” and that it makes the SAVE Act “even more important.” Although counting ballots that arrive more than 100 hours after polls close does not necessarily guarantee fraudulent results, there is nothing crazy about feeling suspicious when one candidate has a massive lead at the end of Election Night, only to wind up as the loser two weeks later.