Recently, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court voted to uphold a Mississippi state law that allows for mail-in/absentee ballots to be counted after election day IF they were mailed on or before the state specific deadlines. This ruling ensures that the maximum number of citizens have their voices heard. Especially for those in the military or working abroad. Many states require that counting mail-in ballots can only start on election day. Only having one day to count these ballots would be a tight window. Now, factor in complications like if someone made a bomb threat to your elections office, like what happened in Blair County in 2024. It’s more time off the clock and potentially less votes counted.

What is so maddening is the reaction to this decision, like calling someone like Amy Coney Barrett a traitor for doing her job and plainly interpreting the constitution. Many claim that this will enable the Democrats to continue their “voter fraud” schemes. If Democrats are cheating, why is it that the U.S. House, Senate and Oval Office are controlled by Republicans? There is no wide-scale voter fraud. It is a lie, told so you don’t feel empowered to participate in elections. The truth is our votes matter, they always have.

The point of our elections is the same reason the 15th and 19th Amendments exist. To ensure every citizen has the opportunity to elect their leaders regardless of party, race, status, and in this case, circumstance.

Devin Allen Saylor

Altoona