Supreme Court judges John Roberts and Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal bloc to overturn a narrow vote that would have forced election officials to count only ballots in hand by Election Day. The decision restores a Grace Period that lets late mail‑in votes be tallied if postmarked by the day.

About 30 states now maintain that practice, a move that critics say gives Democrats an edge in tight races. President Trump slammed California's seven‑day counting window on Truth Social, calling the move a theft and demanding the USPS limit ballot access to a pre‑approved list.

Earlier this month, a federal judge blocked the Trump‑issued executive order that would have barred the USPS from mailing ballots to anyone not on an approved absentee list. A separate order aimed at ending late vote counting was also halted, confirming the court’s stance that election law must remain clear and consistent.

With the ruling in place, state election boards can continue to count ballots that arrive days after Election Day, while federal agencies remain barred from restricting ballot delivery. The decision preserves a key element of mail‑in voting that has become a battleground in recent elections, reinforcing the balance between accessibility and regulatory certainty.