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Indian American lawmakers back Supreme Court mail ballot ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4, upholding mail-in ballot laws in 14 states, including California, New York, and Texas.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 30, Jun 2026
- 05:24 EDT
- 78
Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Shri Thanedar / Wikimedia commons
Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar described the U.S. Supreme Court's protection of mail-in ballots as a "major win for our democracy," noting that it would safeguard the voting rights of many Americans.
The court rejected a petition by the Republican National Committee (RNC), which sought to block the counting of mail-in ballots received after Election Day, even if they were postmarked beforehand. Brought against Mississippi's mail ballot law, the challenge had the potential to affect elections across the country.
The RNC's position is openly backed by President Donald Trump, who described the judgment as "tremendous loss" for voters' rights.
Reacting to the judgment, Trump said on Truth Social, "The fact that 'people's' votes are allowed to be counted LONG AFTER an Election is over, it is more important than ever to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT."
Also Read: Trump calls for federal role in US elections
The president also advocated for voter ID requirements and an end to mail-in ballots, except for the sick, military personnel, and those who are traveling.
"If a voter casts their ballot on time, their vote should count. This ruling is a major win for our democracy and for every American who relies on mail-in voting to make their voice heard," said Congressman Thanedar, reacting to the judgment.
He added, "We know that Trump and MAGA will never stop coming after our voting rights. This is a small victory, but I will keep fighting to make voting as easy and convenient as possible. In fact, my wife and I just got our ballots and we look forward to filling them out soon."
Similar sentiments were also expressed by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. He noted, "The Supreme Court got this one right. Last week, I warned that President Trump's effort to throw out ballots that were cast on time but arrived after Election Day would disenfranchise military service members and other Americans who rely on the mail to vote."
Talking about the judgment, he said, "Today's decision makes clear that federal law does not require states to reject those lawful ballots. The Trump administration should respect the rule of law and stop trying to make it harder for eligible Americans to vote."
It is interesting to note that any undercutting of mail-in ballots would disproportionately affect Democrats, making the issue fundamentally bipartisan. Democrats consistently use mail-in ballots at higher rates than Republicans, though the gap has narrowed in recent elections.
A report by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, published after the 2024 election, claims, "Thirty-seven percent of Democrats reported voting by mail, compared to 24% of Republicans."
However, the study also notes that the mail-in voter share imbalance is declining, marking a decrease from "60% for Democrats and 32% for Republicans in 2020" to 37 percent and 24 percent in 2024.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4, upholding mail-in ballot laws in 14 states, including California, New York, and Texas. This avoids major disruptions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote the majority opinion, while Justice Samuel Alito dissented, arguing it could risk election integrity.
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