government
Supreme Court allows for mail-in ballot grace period
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· June 29, 2026
· 1 min read
The Supreme Court has ruled that ballots that have been received after Election Day can be counted.Read more trending news The decision said, “The federal election-day statutes do not prevent Mississippi from counting absentee ballots postmarked by election day but received up to five days therea...
Key takeaway About 1 in 3 voters cast their ballots by mail nationwide in 2024, The Washington Post reported.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The Supreme Court's decision to allow mail-in ballots to be counted if received after Election Day will likely have significant implications for voters in Atlanta . With about one in three voters casting their ballots by mail nationwide, this ruling could lead to an increase in mail-in voting in Fulton County, where Atlanta is located. The decision may also impact the way local election officials handle absentee ballots, potentially reducing the risk of disenfranchisement for voters who mail in their ballots close to the election deadline. As the city's population continues to grow and diversify, ensuring that all voters have equal access to the ballot box is crucial, and this ruling may help to achieve that goal. Atlanta residents can expect to see changes in the way local elections are administered, with a potential focus on educating voters about the new rules and deadlines for mail-in ballots.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The Supreme Court has ruled that ballots that have been received after Election Day can be counted.Read more trending news The decision said, “The federal election-day statutes do not prevent Mississippi from counting absentee ballots postmarked by election day but received up to five days therea...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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