The Nevada Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of upholding the state's post-election deadline for mail ballots that lack a postmark, dismissing a lawsuit brought by Republicans and the Trump campaign. This decision comes amidst ongoing legal battles surrounding mail-in voting procedures in various states.
In a separate federal court case filed by Republicans, the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is not expected to reach a resolution before the upcoming election. The state court case specifically challenged Nevada's policy of accepting mail ballots without postmarks up to three days after an election.
The Nevada Supreme Court highlighted that the Republican National Committee (RNC) failed to provide evidence or allegations of potential voter fraud related to counting mail ballots without postmarks. The court emphasized that existing election security measures are deemed adequate to address any concerns regarding these ballots.
While the Republicans' arguments in Nevada were unsuccessful, they did succeed in a separate case involving Mississippi's mail-in voting policy. A conservative appeals court ruled that Mississippi's practice of counting mail ballots up to five days after the election, provided they are postmarked, violated federal law. However, the appeals court opted not to block the policy for the upcoming election and referred the case back to a lower court for further proceedings.
These legal battles underscore the complexities and controversies surrounding mail-in voting procedures in the lead-up to the election. As states navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the debate over mail-in ballots and election security continues to be a focal point of contention among political parties and stakeholders.
