Vet Voice Foundation Applauds Supreme Court Decision Protecting Mail Ballot Grace Periods for Military Families and Millions of American Voters

WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 29, 2026 — Vet Voice Foundation welcomed today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee, a major victory for voters that preserves states’ ability to count timely mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day.

Vet Voice Foundation intervened in the case to defend the rights of military families, veterans, and overseas voters whose ballots are often delayed through no fault of their own. Today’s 5-4 ruling affirms that federal law does not require ballots to be received by Election Day so long as states choose to accept ballots that are timely postmarked.

The Court rejected the Republican National Committee’s argument that federal election statutes prohibit states from counting ballots received after Election Day, concluding that Congress established the day elections are held—not a nationwide ballot receipt deadline.

The decision preserves ballot receipt grace periods in 14 states and the District of Columbia and protects longstanding laws that ensure military and overseas voters can continue to have their ballots counted even when mail delays occur.

“Today’s decision is a victory for every American who follows the rules, mails their ballot on time, and deserves to have their vote counted,” said Janessa Goldbeck, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Vet Voice Foundation. “For service members stationed around the world, military spouses, veterans, and other Americans who rely on voting by mail, this ruling recognizes a simple principle: voters should not lose their voice because of circumstances beyond their control. Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter has a fair opportunity to participate.”

Nearly one-third of American voters cast ballots by mail in the 2024 general election, including millions of military families, veterans, seniors, and rural voters. Even with existing grace periods, more than 100,000 ballots were rejected nationwide for arriving after state deadlines.

Vet Voice Foundation intervened in the litigation because eliminating ballot receipt grace periods would have disproportionately harmed military and overseas voters, who frequently face unavoidable postal delays while serving the nation abroad.