LA, CA Officials Hail Supreme Court Ruling On Mail-In Ballots

LOS ANGELES, CA — Local and state election officials Monday hailed a U.S. Supreme Court ruling validating the process of states accepting mail-in ballots that are postmarked by election day.

The ruling came in a case challenging vote-counting procedures in Mississippi, which allows ballots to be received and tallied up to five days after the election — a process that has repeatedly come under fire from President Donald Trump and other Republicans who have alleged without evidence that such a method is ripe for election fraud.

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The court's majority found, however, that federal law does not prohibit such a process, only dictating that voters submit their ballots by election day to be valid.

California law allows ballots to be received as much as seven days after election day, as long as they are postmarked on time.

"Today's decision affirms what Los Angeles County voters deserve: the assurance that a ballot cast by election day will be counted if received within the legal timeframe established in state law," Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean Logan said in a statement. "The decision supports California voters' preference for voting options that increase access and participation. Our office will continue to provide voter education, multilingual outreach, and leverage available resources to ensure voting access for our 5.8 million registered voters heading into November and in every election that follows. We remain firmly committed to transparency, accuracy, and compliance with all applicable election laws."

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber called the court's ruling "a win for voters, for the rule of law, and for the future of our democracy."

"By rejecting efforts to shorten the vote-by-mail return window, the court protected an important safeguard that helps ensure service members, overseas voters, Californians with disabilities, and rural communities are not silenced by mail delays beyond their control," Weber said in a statement. "This ruling makes one thing clear: our elections belong to the people, not to partisan agendas. As secretary of state, I will keep working to ensure every eligible Californian has the opportunity to be heard, because our democracy is strongest when every voice and vote count."

Gov. Gavin Newsom also hailed the decision.

"California, like many states, utilizes vote-by-mail to increase participation in our democracy and today's ruling helps ensure mail-in-ballots get counted and people's voices are heard through the democratic process," Newsom said. "Despite ongoing attacks from the Trump Administration, we will continue our work throughout the Golden State to ensure every eligible Californian participates — because democracy is strongest when we all take part."

Trump blasted the court's decision as a "tremendous loss" for voter rights, and again called on Congress to pass the Save America Act, which would ban most mail-in voting except for specific circumstances, while requiring all voters to produce a photo ID and proof of citizenship to cast a ballot.