A Michigan judge ruled on Friday that mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 must be counted in the state as long as they are received within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election, the latest move by a U.S. court to protect voting rights in the pandemic.
Michigan Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens made the ruling in a case brought by the Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans, and supported by Marc Elias, an
elections lawyer working with
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's campaign.
The ruling said the ballots must be received "by the clerk's office no later than 14 days after the
election has occurred," and would apply to this year's election as a special provision due to the
Coronavirus pandemic.