SouthernWorldwide.com – Justice Amy Coney Barrett, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has drawn sharp criticism from conservative circles following her authorship of a Supreme Court majority opinion that permits mail-in ballots to be counted even if they arrive after Election Day in Mississippi.
The Supreme Court’s decision was a close 5-4 split. Justice Barrett penned the majority opinion, which was supported by Chief Justice John Roberts, and liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Barrett’s reasoning asserted that while Election Day signifies the deadline for voters to cast their ballots in federal elections, existing laws do not specify a receipt deadline for mail-in ballots to be considered valid.
This stance immediately sparked backlash from conservative commentators and political figures on social media.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt expressed his strong disapproval on X, calling the opinion “shockingly wrong.” He argued that Justice Barrett’s alignment with liberal justices on allowing late mail-in ballots undermines election integrity and advocated for the passage of the SAVE American Act as a solution.
Conservative author Hans Mahncke drew a parallel between Barrett and former Justice David Souter, labeling Barrett “the biggest conservative judicial disaster since Souter.” He lamented that while Souter’s conservative leanings were not widely anticipated, Barrett was expected to be a future leader of the Court, expressing concern over her potential to promote “leftist policies for another 40 years.”
Political commentator Josh Hammer also voiced his disappointment, stating that “Amy Coney Barrett continues to disappoint in far too many high-profile cases.”
The office of Republican Representative Abe Hamadeh criticized the ruling on X, asserting that it moves the country further away from Election Day as a definitive marker. They warned that the decision contributes to elections becoming “bogged down by endless mail-in ballots and never-ending counts.”
Seth Keshel, a retired U.S. Army captain, declared on X that “Amy Coney Barrett is the worst choice ever among all GOP justices,” even including Roberts, and called her a significant disappointment.
Constitutional attorney Krisanne Hall noted on X that while Barrett references historical intent and the Framers’ guidance, she appears to set aside inconvenient historical evidence. Hall accused Barrett of engaging in “judicial activism disguised as selective originalism.”
Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, described the ruling as “deeply disappointing and misses the mark.” He emphasized that federal law clearly requires all ballots to be received by Election Day. Snead contended that the Court missed an opportunity to bolster election integrity and instead embraced “California-style chaos,” citing Justice Alito’s dissent which warned that late-arriving ballots can erode public trust.
Hans von Spakovsky, a former Federal Election Commissioner, echoed these sentiments, calling the ruling a “grave disappointment.” He referenced Justice Samuel Alito’s dissent, which was joined by three other justices, stating that Barrett’s opinion not only contradicts the plain meaning of election laws and historical precedent but also “risks further undermining Americans’ confidence in election integrity.”
The decision has intensified calls for the passage of the SAVE Act, a voter ID and citizenship verification bill championed by former President Trump. Republican Representative Greg Steube urged on X to “Nuke it!” referring to the Senate filibuster, which he identified as the sole obstacle to the act’s passage.
Former President Trump reacted on Truth Social, labeling the ruling a “tremendous loss.” He reiterated his call for all voters to present photo ID and proof of citizenship, and for mail-in ballots to be eliminated except in specific circumstances.
Trump stated on Truth Social that there is “no excuse” for opposing these requirements, suggesting that opposition stems solely from a desire to “CHEAT!”
He further criticized the U.S. Senate for failing to pass the SAVE Act, which he claimed the House of Representatives has approved three times. Trump urged all Democrats and five specific Republican Senators—Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, Bill Cassidy, and Mitch McConnell—to vote to “SAVE OUR COUNTRY,” likening the current political climate to a dangerous communist movement.
