WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican National Committee (RNC)
Chairman Joe Gruters released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme
Court agreed to decide whether states can count mail-in ballots received
after Election Day:
“Allowing states to count large numbers of
mail-in ballots that are received after Election Day undermines trust and
confidence in our elections,” said Chairman Gruters. “Elections must end
on Election Day, which is why the RNC led the way in challenging this harmful
state law. The RNC has been hard at work litigating this case for nearly
two years, and we hope the Supreme Court will affirm the Fifth Circuit's
landmark decision that mail-in ballots received after Election Day cannot be
counted.”
Background:
- Today, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Watson
v. Republican National Committee (formerly RNC v. Wetzel),
to decide whether federal law requires mail-in ballots to be received
by Election Day.
- In 2024, the RNC, the Mississippi Republican Party, and two
individual plaintiffs sued
the State of Mississippi to enjoin a state law which allows mail-in
ballots arriving up to five days after the election to be counted.
- Last year, the RNC secured a major victory in the Fifth Circuit Court of
Appeals, which ruled that mail-in ballots received after Election Day
cannot be counted under federal law.
- Sixteen states allow post-election-day receipt of mail-in
ballots.
- Allowing ballots to arrive after Election Day delays final
results, creates confusion, and erodes public trust in our elections.
- This lawsuit is part of the RNC's ongoing efforts to enforce
safeguards for mail-in voting.
- Last year, the RNC challenged Nevada's law that permits counting mail-in ballots received up to four
business days after Election Day.
- Earlier this year, the RNC intervened to help defend
President Trump's Executive Order, which directs the Attorney General to enforce the Election
Day deadline.
- The RNC has also moved to intervene to defend a Kansas law requiring receipt of mail-in ballots by Election
Day.
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