New York Court Upholds Mail-In Voting Law, Rejects GOP Challenge

New York's highest court has upheld a law allowing mail-in ballots for any registered voter. The state Court of Appeals rejected a Republican challenge, maintaining that the law does not violate the state constitution. The decision counters GOP efforts to tighten voting rules post-2020 election.

A New York law permitting any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail was upheld on Tuesday by the state's highest court, quashing a Republican-led challenge.

The state Court of Appeals, in a 6-1 ruling, affirmed that the voting expansion law enacted last year by the Legislature does not violate the New York state constitution. This decision aligns with lower court rulings and counters the GOP's broader campaign to impose stricter voting regulations following the 2020 election, spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

The lawsuit claimed that most voters should be required to vote in person, but Chief Judge Rowan Wilson, in the majority opinion, wrote that the constitution does not mandate such a requirement. Efforts by Democrats to broaden mail voting through a constitutional amendment in 2021 were previously rejected by voters after a conservative campaign claimed it would foster voter fraud.

State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox criticized the court's decision, referring to it as ''an affront'' to New Yorkers in a statement that highlighted the prior rejection of the amendment by voters.

(With inputs from agencies.)