Statement: The Voter Participation Center Welcomes Supreme Court Decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee

The Voter Participation Center (VPC) welcomes today’s Supreme Court ruling in Watson v. Republican National Committee, which affirms that states have the authority to count mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and received afterward.

Tom Lopach, President and CEO of the Voter Participation Center, issued the following statement:

“Today’s decision affirms a simple but fundamental principle: when eligible Americans follow the rules and cast their ballots on time, their votes should count.

“Millions of Americans rely on mail voting to participate in our democracy, and they should not lose their vote because of mail delays beyond their control.

“This ruling helps protect the freedom to vote and gives states the ability to ensure every eligible ballot cast on time is counted. We welcome the Court’s recognition of that principle and remain committed to protecting and expanding access to the ballot for every eligible American voter.”

The Voter Participation Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing civic engagement and closing voter registration and turnout gaps. Since 2003, VPC has helped register millions of voters—particularly among historically underrepresented communities—and continues to run the nation’s largest mail-based and digital voter engagement programs.