Supreme Court says Illinois congressman can sue over state mail-in voting laws | 14 Jan 2026 | The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled that federal candidates have the right to challenge state election laws that govern the counting of ballots in their states, clearing the way for an expected flurry of new lawsuits in the run-up to this year’s midterm elections. Justices ruled 7-2 that candidates running for federal office have the standing to sue state election boards over their counting of ballots — including challenging laws that allow for the counting of late-arriving mail-in ballots. “Candidates, in short, are not ‘mere bystanders’ in their own elections,” Chief Justice John Roberts said, writing for the majority. “They have an obvious personal stake in how the result is determined and regarded.” At issue before the court was a lawsuit Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., filed against the Illinois State Board of Elections in 2022 challenging its mail-in ballot policy, which allows for the counting of ballots received up to 14 days after Election Day.