The Nevada Supreme Court has just ruled that mail-in ballots without postmarks may be counted up to three days after Election Day on November 5.
The Republican National Committee and Donald Trump’s campaign had attempted to prevent the counting of ballots lacking postmarks in a key state, and the party has also contested similar measures in other states to stop counting ballots that arrive after Election Day.
However, the state Supreme Court upheld a ruling from District Court Judge James Russell, who opted not to block the counting of these unmarked ballots, emphasizing the necessity of counting all eligible votes. Judge Russell determined that the Republican party would not face irreparable harm from counting late-arriving ballots, as the number of votes in question was minimal.
Chief Justice Elissa Cadish wrote in the decision, “As explained in the legislative history, the purpose of the bill was ‘to expand the ways in which people vote,’ and make it easier for voters to exercise their freedom to vote.”
Per USA Today:
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Monday the state can count mailed ballots that arrive without a postmark up to three days after Election Day on Nov. 5.
The Republican National Committee and former President Donald Trump’s campaign committee had sought to block the counting of ballots without postmarks in the swing state, and the party has fought in other states to prevent counting ballots that arrive after Election Day.
But the state’s Supreme Court upheld the August decision by District Court Judge James Russell, who refused to block the counting of ballots without postmarks because of the importance of counting all eligible votes. Russell also found Republicans wouldn’t be irreparably harmed by counting late-arriving ballots because few votes were at stake.
“As explained in the legislative history, the purpose of the bill was ‘to expand the ways in which people vote,’ and make it easier for voters to exercise their freedom to vote,” Chief Justice Elissa Cadish wrote for the court.