As a native of Mississippi, I have witnessed firsthand the struggle for voting rights in my home state.
Mississippi’s deep-rooted history of voter suppression still resonates today, making the current legal battle over mail-in voting all the more significant.
A case before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals could strip away an essential voting safeguard in Mississippi. This state policy allows mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received within five days.
This lawsuit, spearheaded by the Republican National Committee, seeks to eliminate this provision, and its consequences could stretch far beyond Mississippi’s borders.
Mississippi’s mail-in voting law is clear: if a voter mails their ballot by Election Day, it will be counted if it arrives within five days. This policy is a critical protection for voters who may face delays due to postal service inefficiencies, natural disasters, or other unforeseen challenges.
However, the RNC is challenging this rule, arguing that federal law requires ballots to be in the hands of election officials by Election Day. If successful, this case would impose a rigid, nationwide deadline, disregarding the realities many voters face, particularly in rural or underserved areas of Mississippi.