Trump Targets Mail-In Ballots Before 2026 Elections/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump announced plans for an executive order banning mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Critics say the move could disenfranchise millions of Democratic voters and spark legal battles. Trump insists his actions aim to restore election “honesty” despite scant evidence of voter fraud.
Mail Ballot Crackdown Quick Looks
- Trump promises executive order to end mail-in voting and machines.
- The move is expected to disproportionately impact Democratic turnout.
- Trump falsely claims mail-in ballots lead to widespread fraud.
- Each U.S. state manages its own election system independently.
- Trump warns states to follow federal directives “for the good of our country.”
- Democrats and voting rights groups condemn the plan as undemocratic.
- Mail-in voting surged in 2020 but declined in 2024.
- Trump claims Putin agrees mail-in ballots are “dishonest.”
Deep Look: Trump Moves to Ban Mail-In Ballots, Voting Machines Before 2026 Midterms
WASHINGTON — August 18, 2025
President Donald Trump on Monday unveiled plans to issue an executive order that would ban mail-in ballots and the use of electronic voting machines in the United States ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The move would dramatically reshape how Americans vote—and has already triggered fierce backlash from election officials, Democrats, and voting rights advocates.
“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS,” Trump wrote in a social media post. He also vowed to eliminate “Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.”
This sweeping initiative marks Trump’s latest effort to realign the U.S. electoral landscape in his party’s favor, continuing a post-2020 campaign against voting methods he claims are fraudulent—even though voter fraud is exceedingly rare.
An Executive Order—and a Warning
The president didn’t just announce his plan—he issued a veiled threat to states, which are constitutionally tasked with managing their own elections. Trump warned that they are merely “agents” of the federal government and must comply with his directive.
“They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY,” Trump declared.
However, constitutional scholars and election officials argue the president has no such authority. Each of the 50 states sets its own election rules under the Constitution’s Elections Clause.
Disproportionate Impact on Democrats
Mail-in ballots have historically benefited Democratic turnout more than Republican. In 2020, expanded mail-in voting amid the COVID-19 pandemic saw record participation. While use declined in 2024, roughly 30% of voters still cast ballots by mail, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
“This is a blatant attempt to silence voters,” said Johanna Warshaw, spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association. “Democratic governors are the last line of defense against Trump’s attacks on our fundamental freedoms.”
Warshaw and other critics argue that banning mail-in voting would disproportionately affect seniors, disabled voters, overseas military personnel, and those in rural areas without easy access to polling places.
State of Play: Mail Voting in the U.S.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL):
- 28 states offer no-excuse absentee voting.
- 8 states + D.C. conduct elections entirely by mail.
- 14 states require an approved excuse to vote absentee.
That means every state currently offers some form of mail-in or absentee voting, and a federal order attempting to overturn those systems would be challenged immediately in court.
Trump’s Rationale—and a Putin Endorsement?
Trump, who still promotes the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, now argues that mail-in voting and voting machines are a threat to democracy. He claimed after his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Russian leader also disapproves of mail-in ballots.
“Putin agrees mail-in voting is dishonest,” Trump said after their summit in Alaska.
Trump’s push for paper-only ballots and hand-counting is a longstanding demand, but election officials warn such methods are slower, more error-prone, and far more expensive than machine tabulation.
Ironically, Trump himself has voted by mail in past elections, and even encouraged his supporters to do the same during his 2024 campaign.
Legal Showdown on the Horizon
Election law experts and civil rights groups expect legal challenges the moment Trump attempts to formalize his directive.
“This is a clear violation of the Elections Clause of the Constitution,” said legal analyst Alicia Torres. “States will not cede control of voting procedures without a major court battle.”
Past presidential elections have already seen court fights over ballot deadlines, signature matching rules, and drop boxes. Trump’s proposed order could trigger a wave of lawsuits across dozens of states.
Political Stakes: 2026 and Beyond
The November 2026 midterms will be the first nationwide test of Trump’s second-term policies. Democrats aim to retake the House and Senate to block his domestic agenda, while Trump is working to consolidate power and secure Republican control across the federal government.
His push to alter the electoral process through executive action—combined with state-level redistricting efforts in Texas and Indiana—reflects a coordinated attempt to shape the political battlefield in advance.
As Trump pushes forward, expect voting rights organizations, Democratic governors, and possibly even some Republican-led states to challenge the legality and ethics of the proposed order.
“There’s no evidence of widespread voter fraud—this is about control,” said Warshaw. “And we’re not backing down.”
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