Justices Suggest Wariness of Sweeping Bid to Upend Election Law

Key US Supreme Court justices expressed wariness about a far-reaching constitutional argument that would give state lawmakers more power to set the rules for federal elections.

Hearing almost three hours of arguments Wednesday, the justices weighed contentions that the Constitution precludes state judges and other officials from performing longstanding roles in shaping congressional districts, voter eligibility and mail-in ballot requirements.

Some members of the court’s conservative wing suggested they weren’t convinced by sweeping arguments being pressed by North Carolina Republicans in the redistricting case. Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the so-called independent state legislature theory could require the US Supreme ...