LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Monday that mail-in ballots with smudged, indecipherable or missing postmarks can be counted for up to three days after polls close on Election Day . The state’s highest court rejected a bid by state and national Republicans, former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and a voter, Scott Johnston, to block them from being counted. Among the GOP arguments was that mail ballots unfairly benefit Democratic voters.
The court challenge came after Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, a Democrat, told county election officials in May that ballots without a visible postmark should be counted until 5 p.m. the Friday after Election Day.
This year, that is Nov. 8. Aguilar said the ruling “will allow election administration in Nevada to continue uninterrupted, without the risk of disenfranchising voters through no fault of their own.
” In a statement, he also praised election workers "who have dedicated additional resources to securely process mail more efficiently this cycle.” Republican National Committee spokesperson Claire Zunk said in a statement the court decision "undermined the integrity of Nevada’s elections.” The ruling upheld a decision in August by state court Judge James Todd Russell in Carson City, and followed oral arguments before the seven-member court Oct.
8. It was not clear Monday if plaintiffs will ask the seven justices to reconsider. Five justices acknowledged that state law covering vote .