Watson v. Republican National Committee — SCOTUS (argued March 23, 2026)
The Supreme Court considers a Republican National Committee challenge to Mississippi's rule for mailed ballots. Mississippi counts absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day if officials receive them within five business days; the Fifth Circuit held that federal Election Day statutes require receipt by Election Day. The Court later ruled five to four for Mississippi, holding that federal law sets a casting deadline, not a receipt deadline.
Watson v. Republican National Committee (No. 24-1260) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued March 23, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/24-1260.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1260_6k47.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-1260.html
Brief for Secretary Watson:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1260/390664/20260102121935930_No.%2024-1260%20Brief%20for%20Petitioner.pdf
Brief for the Libertarian Party of Mississippi:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1260/395807/20260209143028565_No%2024%201260%20Respondents%20Brief.pdf
Brief for the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-1260/396427/20260217134927549_24-1260bsacUnitedStates.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1260_g3cn.pdf
Decision coverage — Associated Press:https://apnews.com/article/2f78265a72442a57d98de69cb1e2ab25
Decision coverage — CBS News:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-mail-ballots-mississippi-law-watson-v-rnc/
Scott G. Stewart — Mississippi Attorney General's Office:https://www.ago.state.ms.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/19-1392BriefForPetitioners.pdf
Paul D. Clement — Clement & Murphy:https://www.clementmurphy.com/who-we-are/paul-clement/
D. John Sauer — U.S. Department of Justice:https://www.justice.gov/osg/staff-profile/solicitor-general-john-sauer
UOCAVA — U.S. Code:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?edition=prelim&num=0&req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title52-section20302
UOCAVA voter guide — Federal Voting Assistance Program:https://www.fvap.gov/guide/appendix/faq
Purcell principle — Constitution Annotated:https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S4-C1-2/ALDE_00013577/
Merrill v. Milligan — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21a375_d18f.pdf
Acheson Hotels v. Laufer — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-429_h315.pdf
Vacatur — Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/vacatur
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:41Scott G. Stewart
- 18:16UOCAVA
- 56:52Paul D. Clement
- 1:39:59The Purcell Principle
- 1:52:24D. John Sauer
- 2:09:45Vacatur