Sutherland Institute commends Supreme Court decision affirming states’ constitutional role in elections

SALT LAKE CITY (June 29, 2026) — Sutherland Institute welcomes today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Watson v. Republican National Committee. This decision is a victory for federalism and affirms states’ Constitutional authority to carry out elections.

Importantly, the Court’s ruling does not change election law in Utah. Utah law already requires that mail-in ballots be received by Election Day in order to be counted. If the state legislature wants to change those rules, as they have done in the past, that authority is still in place.

“The Supreme Court’s role is to interpret the law as written, not rewrite it. The Court’s decision today reinforces an important constitutional principle: states have the primary responsibility for establishing the rules governing elections,” said Derek Monson, Sutherland Institute’s Executive Director. “The Court narrowly and appropriately interpreted federal election law. It upheld the constitutional framework established by Article I, Section 4, which gives states the lead role in elections, as long as they do not conflict with federal law.”

Today’s ruling also does not prevent Congress from acting. “If Congress determines that federal law should require states to count ballots received after Election Day, it has the constitutional authority to enact that policy by passing legislation,” Monson said.

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