Military voters were at the heart of the Supreme Court’s mail-in ballot decision

Mail-in voting was created during the Civil War so soldiers could vote. That legacy helped shape how the Supreme Court ruled more than 160 years later.

By: Jamie Rowen, UMass Amherst, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: July 2, 2026

Words: 1,339

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

Body Text Preview

By Jamie Rowen, UMass Amherst

In Watson v. RNC, decided June 29, 2026, liberal and conservative Supreme Court justices joined a noteworthy cross-ideological majority to uphold state grace periods for mail-in ballots. The decision, which went against President Donald Trump’s policy preferences, preserved the status quo, allowing states to accept and count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received after.

The case revolved around the meaning of “election day,” which federal law …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us