Late Mail Ballots in Mississippi Ruled Illegal in GOP Challenge

A federal appeals court ruled that Mississippi’s acceptance of mail ballots after Election Day violates US law, but sent the question about whether its decision will apply to the Nov. 5 presidential contest back to a lower court judge.

In a unanimous decision on Friday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the Republican National Committee that accepting absentee ballots that arrive after Election Day violates US law establishing a single day for federal elections nationwide.

But the three-judge panel didn’t decide whether the ruling will apply to the fast-approaching Nov. 5 election. The panel sent the case ...