BREAKING: The Trump administration appeals to the Supreme Court in a push to sideline 20,000

The appeal could affect how election officials handle ballots that arrive after Election Day but are postmarked on time. Key points: The administration is seeking emergency intervention from the Supreme Court, escalating a dispute over California’s mail-voting rules. The case centers on roughly 20,000 ballots that officials may count under state procedures if they are received within the permitted period. The administration argues that allowing the ballots to be included conflicts with federal election requirements and could undermine uniform national standards. California officials and voting-rights advocates maintain that the ballots were cast lawfully and that rejecting them would disenfranchise eligible voters. The Supreme Court’s decision could determine whether the ballots are included in the election tally and shape future conflicts over states’ authority to set ballot-receipt deadlines. The filing comes amid heightened partisan litigation over mail voting, election administration and the balance between state and federal power.