Ohio and 16 other Republican-dominated states have sued, asserting that a waiver granted to California to set its own rules violates the basic design of the U.S. Constitution, which they assert should treat states as equals.
The court's action was the second time the justices declined to intervene in an admissions program based on geography since their 2023 ruling invalidating affirmative action in higher education.
The focal point of the case is 2009 law enacted by Congress that gives the Food and Drug Administration a mandate to curb the availability of nicotine products for minors.
Ted Olson, the Bush-era solicitor general, has died at age 84. He was a towering figure in the legal profession who argued 65 cases at the Supreme Court as solicitor general and as a private lawyer.
It is hard to estimate how many ballots will be affected by the decision or whether it will ultimately impact the outcome of the presidential election.