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<\/p>\nThe 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dropped a bombshell ruling on Friday that could have major implications for this year\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n
The court ruled against a Mississippi law that allowed ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward to be still counted.<\/p>\n
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The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, has returned the issue to a lower court for further examination. This decision would only affect Mississippi if a federal district court judge agrees to prohibit the state from counting late-arriving mail-in ballots, the Washington Examiner reported.<\/p>\n
The three-judge panel stated that \u201cElection Day,\u201d as designated by Congress, is the last day ballots should be cast and received by state officials.<\/p>\n
\u201cText, precedent, and historical practice confirm this \u2018day for the election\u2019 is the day by which ballots must be both cast by voters and received by state officials,\u201d the court wrote, adding that Mississippi\u2019s law allowing ballots to be counted if received up to five days after Election Day also conflicts with federal law.<\/p>\n
While Republicans sought an injunction to block the policy immediately, the judges refused and instead returned the case to the lower court to determine \u201cappropriate relief,\u201d emphasizing the importance of maintaining the status quo of the voting process as the election approaches.<\/p>\n
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley lauded the decision as a \u201cMASSIVE ELECTION INTEGRITY VICTORY.\u201d<\/p>\n