June 29, 2026
Supreme Court Affirms Protections for Older Americans and All Mail Voters
The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding the 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Watson v. RNC. The Mississippi Alliance for Retired Americans was an intervenor in the case.
“We welcome today’s decision, which protects the right of millions of Americans—especially older voters—to have their legally cast ballots counted.
Mississippi’s law has worked well for decades and protects voters who do exactly what the law requires: they cast and mail their ballots by Election Day. The Court correctly recognized that no eligible voter should lose their voice because of mail delays or other circumstances beyond their control.
For generations, states have adopted practical election rules that reflect the realities of mail delivery, protect the right to vote, and meet the needs of their citizens. The Court’s decision means that voters in the 14 states that provide a grace period for regular mail ballots, and the 29 states which allow additional time for at least some mail voters, including military and overseas voters, can breathe a little easier. By upholding these long-standing protections, the Court has preserved certainty for voters and election officials, respected the ability of states to administer their own elections, and protected election laws that millions of mail voters across the country rely upon.
Our Alliance members in Mississippi proudly joined this case to defend the constitutional right to vote. We have always maintained that no eligible voter who casts a ballot in a timely manner should have that vote tossed out because of circumstances they cannot control.
Today’s decision affirms a simple principle: legally cast ballots should be counted. We will continue fighting to protect every eligible voter’s right to have a ballot cast in a timely manner.”
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Contact: Lisa Cutler, [email protected]
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