The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 29 that states may continue counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day but arrive afterward if a state law allows it, rejecting a challenge brought by the Republican National Committee and supported by Donald Trump.
Writing for the 5-4 majority in Watson v. Republican National Committee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that while federal law establishes a uniform Election Day, it “does not set a deadline for ballot receipt.” The Court concluded that federal law requires voters to cast their ballots by Election Day but leaves states free to determine whether ballots mailed on time may be counted if they arrive later.
The ruling preserves existing absentee ballot deadlines in states that allow a post-Election Day receipt period and reinforces states’ authority over many aspects of election administration. That question of state authority is also playing out in North Carolina.
According to NBC News, the U.S. Department of Justice has requested voter registration information from all 50 states and the District of Columbia as part of the Trump administration’s effort to review voter rolls following the president’s March 2025 executive order on elections. NBC reported that some states have resisted the requests, while others have agreed to provide at least some of the information sought.
According to Democracy Docket, the Republican majority on the North Carolina State Board of Elections voted to share voter registration information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Democratic board members raised concerns about voter privacy and whether federal officials had demonstrated a legal basis for the request, while Republican members said the action would help ensure compliance with federal election laws.
According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, any registered voter may request an absentee ballot by mail. The agency says absentee voting includes multiple security measures, including voter identification requirements, witness certification, barcode tracking and signature verification. The South Carolina Election Commission states that absentee voting is available only to voters who meet eligibility requirements established in state law, including many military and overseas voters, people with disabilities and other qualifying voters.
In a statement following the ruling, League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Celina Stewart said, “This ruling ensures that voters who follow the rules and cast their ballots on time won’t be disenfranchised because of circumstances beyond their control.”
As North Carolina debates issues ranging from voter registration data sharing to absentee voting procedures, the Court’s decision makes clear that states will continue to play a central role in shaping election administration. For voters in the Carolinas, however, the immediate impact is straightforward: The Supreme Court’s decision does not change existing absentee voting rules in either North Carolina or South Carolina.
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