WorldThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can count ballots that arrive after election day, a persistent target of President Donald Trump.Decision means states will continue to be able to count mail-in ballots that arrive after election dayThe Associated Press · Posted: Jun 29, 2026 2:38 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.A person places an envelope in a ballot return box for mail-in ballots in Philadelphia. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that mail-in ballots postmarked by election day can be counted even if they arrive late. (Matt Rourke/The Associated Press)The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that states can count ballots that arrive after election day, a persistent target of President Donald Trump.The 5-4 decision rejected a Republican-led attack on laws in more than half the states and the District of Columbia that permit mailed ballots to arrive and be counted some number of days after the election, provided they are postmarked by election day. The outcome spares officials the headache of changing their ballot rules just a few months before the 2026 midterm congressional elections.In just over half those states, the more forgiving deadlines apply only to ballots cast by military and overseas voters.AnalysisTrump's pledge to scrap mail-in voting could throw U.S. elections into a tailspinThe legal challenge was part of Trump's broader attack on most mail balloting, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states. Trump has repeatedly claimed that his loss to Joe Biden in 2020 resulted from fraud even though more than 60 court decisions and his own attorney general said that argument had no merit.WATCH | What's behind Trump's attack on mail-in ballots:The truth behind Trump’s push to ban mail-in voting | About ThatAugust 22, 2025|Duration 11:16President Donald Trump wants to do away with mail-in voting, claiming it's responsible for 'massive voter fraud' in the U.S. Andrew Chang explores what might really be behind Trump's contempt for mail-in ballots and what he can actually do about it.