Election Assistance Commission issues emergency warning on mail ballot ruling risk

The Election Assistance Commission convenes an emergency meeting in Chicago with state election officials, voting rights advocates, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Dustin Czarny, director of election security, warns that a Supreme Court ruling striking down grace periods would be "akin to a natural disaster" for election administration. Officials present data showing that 14 states and D.C. rely on grace periods, affecting approximately 1.8 million mail ballots. The meeting produces contingency plans for rapid state-level legislative response if the Court rules against grace periods.