Watson v. Republican National Committee

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Watson v. Republican National Committee
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Supreme Court of the United States
Full case name Michael Watson, Mississippi Secretary of State v. Republican National Committee, et al.
Docket no. 24-1260
Questions presented
Whether the federal election-day statutes preempt a state law that allows ballots that are cast by federal election day to be received by election officials after that day

Watson v. Republican National Committee is a pending United States Supreme Court case regarding the ability of mail-in ballots cast and postmarked by election day to be counted if they are received after Election Day. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In January 2024, the Republican National Committee and Mississippi Republican Party filed a federal lawsuit seeking to enjoin the Mississippi secretary of state, the Harrison County circuit court clerk, and the Harrison County election commissioners from counting mail-in absentee ballots after Election Day. [3] In February, the Libertarian Party of Mississippi filed a companion case. In July 2024, the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi rejected their arguments, granted summary judgment in favor of the election officials, and dismissed the case. [4] [5] They promptly appealed. [6]

In October 2024, the Fifth Circuit reversed in part and vacated in part the judgment, holding that federal election-day statutes require ballots for federal office to be both cast and received by Election Day, and therefore preempt Mississippi's law. [7] [8] In March 2025, the intervenor defendants-appellees' petition for rehearing en banc was denied by the circuit court. [9] [10] In June, Mississippi petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari, and in November it was granted.

In June 2025 in a related case, the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts held that nineteen states were likely to succeed on the merits that their post-election day receipt deadlines were consistent with the Election Day statutes and issued a preliminary injunction against enforcement of Executive Order 14248. [11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Chidi, George; Levine, Sam (November 10, 2025). "US supreme court to decide if states can accept late-arriving mail ballots". The Guardian.
  2. ↑ VanSickle, Abbie (November 10, 2025). "Supreme Court to Hear Major Challenge to Mail-In Ballot Laws". New York Times.
  3. ↑ Vance, Taylor (31 January 2024). "RNC and Mississippi Republican Party file lawsuit to limit mail-in ballots for federal elections". Mississippi Today . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  4. ↑ Republican National Committee v. Wetzel, 742F.Supp.3d587 (S.D. Miss.28 July 2024).
  5. ↑ Vance, Taylor (29 July 2024). "Federal judge rejects Republican challenge of Mississippi absentee vote counting". Mississippi Today . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  6. ↑ Vance, Taylor (30 July 2024). "RNC appealing federal judge's order upholding Mississippi's absentee ballot counting law". Mississippi Today . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Republican National Committee v. Wetzel, 120F.4th200 (5th Cir.25 October 2024).
  8. ↑ "Federal court says Mississippi can't count late ballots but the ruling doesn't affect Nov. 5 vote". Mississippi Today. Associated Press. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Republican National Committee v. Wetzel, 132F.4th775 (5th Cir.14 March 2025).
  10. ↑ Vance, Taylor (19 March 2025). "Federal appeals court affirms Mississippi can't count late mail-in absentee ballots for federal elections". Mississippi Today . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  11. ↑ State of California v. Trump, 2025WL1667949 (D. Mass.13 June 2025).
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