Supreme Court skeptical in Illinois mail-ballot case
The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 8 heard Rep. Michael Bost’s challenge to an Illinois rule allowing ballots mailed by Election Day to be counted for up to 14 days, with justices from both wings expressing skepticism about Bost’s standing and Illinois’s defense. Bost’s lawyer Paul Clement argued the extended count harmed him despite winning, while Illinois Solicitor General Jane Notz urged limits on who can sue; multiple justices criticized the sufficiency of both sides’ positions.
Legal
Elections
Politics
📌 Key Facts
- Oral argument date: Oct. 8, 2025, at the U.S. Supreme Court
- Illinois regulation: ballots mailed by Election Day can be counted up to 14 days after polls close
- Lower courts dismissed Bost’s suit for lack of standing because he won; Bost argues reduced victory margin and extra costs
- Justices Roberts, Kagan, Alito, Sotomayor, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Ketanji Brown Jackson pressed both sides; advocates were Paul Clement (for Bost) and Jane Notz (for Illinois)