The Supreme Court ruled in Watson v. RNC that Mississippi's law permitting mail-in ballots received up to five days after Election Day to be counted is constitutional, delivering a setback to President Donald Trump's push for stricter election rules. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a Trump nominee, wrote that Election Day statutes set the deadline for ballot submission — not receipt — leaving the five-day receipt window intact. Trump responded on Truth Social hours after the decision, calling it a "tremendous loss" for voters' rights and demanding immediate congressional action.
The Barrett Opinion and What It Decided
Barrett's ruling held that as long as Election Day is the statutory deadline for casting a vote, state laws that allow ballots to arrive later do not conflict with federal statute. The case pitted Trump directly against justices he appointed, underscoring the limits of executive influence over the Court's jurisprudence. The five-day window remains in effect unless Congress passes legislation to override it.
Trump's Demand: Pass the SAVE America Act
Trump argued the ruling makes passage of the SAVE America Act "more important than ever." The bill — led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) in the House and Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in the Senate — would mandate nationwide voter ID, require proof of citizenship, and effectively ban no-excuse mail-in balloting, restricting absentee ballots to military members, the sick and disabled, and voters traveling away from their home precinct on Election Day. The House has passed versions of the SAVE Act three separate times.
Trump named five Republican senators as obstacles: Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, and Mitch McConnell. Senator Cassidy immediately disputed the characterization, noting he is a co-sponsor of the SAVE Act and calling Trump's inclusion of his name a factual error. Cassidy also called it "irresponsible" to delay a housing-relief bill signing pending SAVE Act passage, arguing people deserve relief from high housing costs.
Senate Math and a Cross-Aisle Opening
Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office declined further comment; McConnell's office acknowledged Trump's statement without committing to a position. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, signaled he would support a stripped-down version limited to a photo ID requirement, saying he would vote "AYE" on a clean, standalone voter-ID bill but opposed bundling it with mail-ballot restrictions.
California Tabulation Controversy Sharpened the Legislative Push
Calls for the SAVE Act intensified before the ruling as critics pointed to California's counting timeline after actor Spencer Pratt was overtaken by socialist Councilwoman Nithya Raman of Los Feliz and eliminated from a congressional runoff. Critics also cited the slow pace at which Democrat Xavier Becerra and Republican Steve Hilton were declared general-election candidates for governor following a crowded primary. If the Senate passes the House-approved text of the SAVE Act, it could effectively moot the Watson v. RNC decision.