Supreme Court allows postal ballots to be extended in some states

In Pennsylvania, the court rejected a plea from Republicans to overturn a three-day extension of the deadline for absentee ballots.

Separately, in North Carolina, the court declined to block an agreement that would give voters more time to return their mailed ballots, as long as they are postmarked by election day.

Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the supreme court ruled against an extension of the state’s deadline for absentee ballots to be counted if received within six days after the election.

Americans are expected to vote by post in record numbers this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

On Tuesday ( 27^th October), district judge Emmet Sullivan ordered the US Postal Service to expand its deliveries and perform additional trips, particularly for election mail.

According to a Reuters report, Carolyn Maloney, chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, said yesterday ( 28th October) that postal “delays are now jeopardising the delivery of election mail, so I encourage all Americans who have not yet voted to vote in person or use designated election drop boxes.”