(The Center Square) - Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters argued for the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down late arriving mail-in ballot laws across the country.
In an exclusive interview with The Center Square, Gruters said justices on the court have an opportunity to clarify what Election Day means across the country. On Monday, the high court heard arguments in Watson v. RNC, a case challenging late arriving mail-in ballot laws.
“We shouldn’t have these races that are unknown for sometimes weeks on end because they’re trying to get additional votes in,” Gruters told The Center Square.
The case challenges a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots to be recieved and counted up to five days after an election, as long as it is postmarked by Election Day. Thirteen other states and the District of Columbia allow a similar process
Gruters, a former Florida state senator, called on other states to implement policies similar to his native state. He said Florida has made immense progress since its “hanging chads” controversy during the 2000 presidential election.
The 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore came down a consequential Florida recount. The U.S. Supreme Court settled ir with Bush winning the state and the Electoral College.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor referenced Florida's recount in oral arguments as a concern over blocking late arriving mail-in ballots for federal elections.
“We were the laughing stock of the country with our hanging chads and other issues,” Gruters said. “After the 2000 race, we got to work, and we wanted to make sure that people had confidence in the system.”
Florida requires all mail-in ballots to be received 12 days before a federal Election Day. Early voting in Florida can start as early as the 15th day before an election. Gruters urged other states to follow Florida’s example in reforming its election initiatives.
“There’s no excuse for people not to vote, and there’s no reason why you can’t vote within the allotted time because there’s certainly plenty of time available,” Gruters said.
During oral arguments, Mississippi Solicitor General Scott Stewart said no evidence had ever been presented of a fraudulent vote cast among mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Gruters said many states do not cooperate with efforts by the Trump administration and the RNC to analyze voter rolls for potential fraud.
“We should all strive to come to a place where we could say, yes, our election systems are fear free, secure and safe and I think a lot of people can't say that, and they can't say it because the Democrats block any type of common sense reform,” Gruters said.
He said absentee and early voting should be reported within 15 minutes of polls closing in a state to increase transparency and accountability. In Pennsylvania, officials cannot count mail-in ballots until Election Day itself.
“I would hope all states would follow the model that Florida has created, because it works, it’s widely supported,” Gruters said. “You have both Republicans and Democrats administrating the laws at different locations without any type of issues whatsoever.”
Gruters said he has confidence that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of setting a firm Election Day. He called for a limited election time frame where hard deadlines are put in place.
“People aren't dumb. They don't need two months. They don't need three months. They don't need an unlimited timeframe. People could figure it out,” Gruters said.
The high court’s justices are expected to issue a decision in June. States with late arriving mail-in ballot receipt deadlines will need to adjust their policies if the court overrules the practice.