Appeals Court Reverses Ballot Deadline Extension; Mail-In Ballots Due Nov. 3
Indiana mail-in ballots must be returned to the county election administrator’s office by noon on Election Day, Nov. 3, if they’re going to count.
That’s after a federal appeals court Tuesday reinstituted the state’s vote-by-mail deadline.
Common Cause Indiana and the Indiana NAACP sued the state earlier this year, trying to get that mail-in ballot deadline extended. They argued, with the pandemic increasing vote-by-mail and slowing down the Post Office, the deadline would leave thousands of ballots uncounted.
READ MORE: Can I Vote By Mail? Here’s What You Need To Know For Indiana’s Elections
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A federal district court judge agreed. But now, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision. In its ruling, the appellate court said it’s the responsibility of voters, not the state, to do everything they can to ensure their vote is counted.
The appeals court’s decision also said it doesn’t want to change election policies this close to Election Day.
Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
