government
Supreme Court ruling gives a reprieve to states with grace periods for receiving mail ballots
By Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
· June 29, 2026
· 5 min read
States that allow mail ballots to be counted after Election Day reacted with relief Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican effort to outlaw the practice.A decision favoring the state of Mississippi over the Republican National Committee delivered an immediate reprieve to the 14...
Key takeaway Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said the ruling means "the thousands of voters whose ballots are postmarked on time but received after Election Day still have their voices heard.
Why this matters in The San Antonio
In Bexar County, where mail ballots are a crucial part of the voting process, the Supreme Court's ruling brings stability to the upcoming midterm elections. With the court's decision, local election officials can now focus on ensuring that all voters, including those serving in the military or living overseas, have their ballots counted without unnecessary changes to the process. The ruling also means that San Antonio voters who rely on mail ballots will not face confusion or disruption, which is particularly important in a community where voter turnout is closely watched. As the midterm elections approach, the court's decision allows local officials to concentrate on educating voters about the voting process, rather than scrambling to implement last-minute changes to mail ballot deadlines. This clarity will help maintain trust in the electoral system and ensure that every vote counts in San Antonio.
About this story
Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: government ·
Published: June 29, 2026 ·
Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 5 min
Get more The San Antonio stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering government and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? States that allow mail ballots to be counted after Election Day reacted with relief Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican effort to outlaw the practice.A decision favoring the state of Mississippi over the Republican National Committee delivered an immediate reprieve to the 14...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 29, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press at KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). To learn more about how The San Antonio selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The San Antonio, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More government →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter