The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Monday to uphold a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received up to five days later. The decision, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett alongside the court’s three liberal justices, rejected a challenge from the Republican National Committee. President Donald Trump criticized the ruling, calling it "detrimental to honest elections" and arguing it enables "illegal voting."
Trump has since intensified his push for the SAVE America Act, legislation that would require voter ID, proof of citizenship, and restrictions on mail-in ballots. The bill, which has stalled in the Senate, would ban no-excuse mail-in voting except for military members, the disabled, and those traveling on Election Day. Trump has pressured Republican senators to support the measure, framing it as essential to combating election fraud.
The ruling comes amid broader debates over voting rights and election integrity. Civil rights groups praised the decision, arguing it expands access to voting. Meanwhile, Trump and his allies have framed the Supreme Court’s decision as a setback for election security, citing concerns over ballot integrity.
In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court expanded Trump’s authority to fire Federal Trade Commission members, though it did not extend this power to the Federal Reserve. The decision underscores ongoing legal battles over executive authority and regulatory oversight.
Trump also reacted to a separate Supreme Court decision declining to review a $5 million civil judgment against him in a defamation case involving writer E. Jean Carroll. He called the ruling an "injustice" and vowed to continue fighting the case.
The SAVE America Act remains a focal point for Trump’s political agenda, with supporters arguing it would prevent fraud and opponents warning it could disenfranchise voters. The legislation faces significant hurdles in Congress, where Republicans lack the votes to overcome a Senate filibuster.