Federal Judge: Wisconsin Absentee Ballots That Arrive Up to 6 Days Late Can Count

A federal judge on Monday extended the deadline for mail-in ballots in the upcoming election, the third such statewide ruling in five days. District Judge William Conley sided with the Democratic National Committee, which wanted the court to block several deadlines including the requirement that polling places receive absentee ballots by 8 p.m. on election day to be counted, as they seek to make mail-in voting easier amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Conley enjoined state election officials from enforcing the deadline for the receipt of such ballots under state law, and extended the deadline until Nov. 9 provided that the ballots are mailed and postmarked on or before Nov. 3 or election day. The judge put the ruling on hold for seven days to give the other side a chance to seek an emergency appeal. Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Andrew Hitt said they were reviewing the order and working with others to …