What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[crazy canuck]

Our mail-in system used to be more controlled (and rare) pre-COVID.  And specifically in this case, is not a "fault" (I don't even think it is a problem) of the American system, but the Californian one...some other states may have similar rules.

Back to the topic, you objected to the characterization of the delay in your voting results being bizarre. I have simply provided context for why from the perspective of an outside viewer it does seem quite bizarre that at least in some places than the United States you have to wait simply because they've made a rule that mail ballots can be posted as late as the election date itself.

Well don't worry. We will lose that ability if the Trump admin has its way.

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5917066-supreme-court-mail-in-ballots/

The Supreme Court is set to decide as soon as this week whether states can accept mail-in ballots that arrive after election day in a case that could invalidate the so-called grace period in places like California.

The decision will come after enormous attention was paid across the country to the results in both the California governor's contest and the battle for mayor of Los Angeles, where Republican candidate Spencer Pratt was overtaken by progressive candidate Nithya Raman, drawing outrage from President Trump and others on the right.

In California, the coming Supreme Court decision would likely have no bearing on those races because they are state and local and not federal contests. But it could have consequences for U.S. House races in the fall.

...

Oh, I'm not worried about the technicalities of how voting occurs in the United States. There are bigger problems to worry about with your country of origin.

[The Minsky Moment]

I don't understand the basis on which the Supreme Court can make that decision.

It's a bit late in the day to start expecting the Supreme Court to require a basis for making a decision.  Trump has asked, what more basis is needed?

[The Minsky Moment]

And that is the difference. The United States seems to be a bit of an outlier by allowing ballots by mail to be posted right up until election day. In the UK, Canada and a number of other countries, voting by mail requires the pre-registration of the voter as well as posting the mail ballot in the prescribed time before the election day. That way, the ballots arrive normally before election day and stored securely so that they are counted along with all the other ballots. Usually last.

It likely derives from the rule, common in most state legal systems that the effective day of service of process done by mail is the day of mailing, since that is the most easily verifiable (via postmark).  And that in turn derives from the fact that the mail system has not always been - and still is not - exactly 100 percent reliable for delivery. 

As to federal elections, Congress does have the authority to override state rules: "the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators."  However, here the Constitution is so explicit that "Congress" must act, that even this administration hasn't had the chutzpah to impose it by electoral fiat.  And getting this Congress to agree on electoral law changes in this climate is a big lift.

[crazy canuck]

And that is the difference. The United States seems to be a bit of an outlier by allowing ballots by mail to be posted right up until election day. In the UK, Canada and a number of other countries, voting by mail requires the pre-registration of the voter as well as posting the mail ballot in the prescribed time before the election day. That way, the ballots arrive normally before election day and stored securely so that they are counted along with all the other ballots. Usually last.

It likely derives from the rule, common in most state legal systems that the effective day of service of process done by mail is the day of mailing, since that is the most easily verifiable (via postmark).  And that in turn derives from the fact that the mail system has not always been - and still is not - exactly 100 percent reliable for delivery. 

As to federal elections, Congress does have the authority to override state rules: "the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators."  However, here the Constitution is so explicit that "Congress" must act, that even this administration hasn't had the chutzpah to impose it by electoral fiat.  And getting this Congress to agree on electoral law changes in this climate is a big lift.

But that does not explain why the deadline for posting the ballot is on election day rather than an earlier day.