SCOTUS hears Watson v. RNC on whether federal law overrides state mail ballot grace periods

The Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Watson v. Republican National Committee, a consequential election law case asking whether the Uniformity Clause of the National Voter Registration Act preempts state laws that allow mail ballots to be counted if received after Election Day but postmarked before. The case directly threatens grace period laws in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and other states used by hundreds of thousands of voters each election. A ruling is expected by June 2026.