Blackwell Statement on Supreme Court Decision Allowing Challenge to Illinois Mail-In Ballot Law

Washington, D.C.—The America First Policy Institute’s Election Integrity Initiative welcomed today’s Supreme Court decision allowing a challenge to Illinois’ mail-in ballot law to move forward, reaffirming that candidates for federal office have a legitimate interest in the rules governing how votes are counted.

The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell, Chair of Election Integrity at the America First Policy Institute, issued the following statement in response to the Court’s ruling in Bost v. Illinois State Board of Elections:

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a critical affirmation that candidates for federal office have a legitimate and protectable interest in the rules that govern how votes are counted in their elections.

By recognizing that candidates have standing to challenge election procedures that affect the integrity of the electoral process, the Court reaffirmed a fundamental principle: election laws must be clear, consistent, and subject to judicial review before—not after—public confidence is undermined.

Illinois’ policy allowing ballots cast on or before Election Day to be counted weeks after polls close raises serious questions about transparency, uniformity, and adherence to federal election law. While today’s ruling does not decide the merits of that policy, it rightly ensures that these questions will be examined in court.

Election integrity is not a partisan issue. It is the foundation of self-government. Americans deserve elections where the rules are set in advance, applied equally, and enforced faithfully. Today’s decision is an important step toward restoring trust in our democratic process.”