djr-2020-11-04-news-voting-twp11 (copy)

In this file photo from November 2020, Lee County resolution board member Kelvin Carouthers inspects an absentee ballot on election night as the board inspects for validity the more than 5,000 absentee ballots cast locally.

 THOMAS WELLS | DAILY JOURNAL

JACKSON — A conservative federal court said Mississippi cannot count mail-in ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day, however Friday's decision was not expected to affect the Nov. 5 election.

Although the appellate judges firmly asserted that counting late ballots violates federal law, even if those ballots are postmarked by Election Day, the judges stopped short of an order immediately blocking Mississippi from continuing the practice. Their ruling noted federal court precedents have discouraged court actions that change established procedures shortly before an election.

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