On August 18, 2023, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order aimed at reforming the electoral process in the United States, particularly focusing on mail-in balloting and the use of voting machines. This move comes as the country gears up for the crucial 2026 midterm elections.
In a social media post, Trump declared, “I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly “Inaccurate,” Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES.” Despite the lack of evidence backing his claims, the former president emphasized the need for what he describes as a more honest electoral process.
Trump continued his statement by asserting that his initiative would face strong opposition from Democrats, whom he accused of cheating at unprecedented levels. He stated, “WE WILL BEGIN THIS EFFORT... by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections.” This rhetoric aligns with his longstanding claims regarding the integrity of the electoral process, particularly following the contentious 2020 presidential election.
Previously, on March 25, Trump signed an executive order addressing various aspects of the electoral system, though this order faced legal challenges and was blocked by courts after lawsuits from Democrat-led states. Trump urged state officials to comply with federal directives, reiterating that states act merely as agents for the federal government in the election process. “They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY,” he emphasized.
This latest announcement comes on the heels of Trump’s recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where Trump claimed that Putin agreed with him on the need to end mail-in voting. Interestingly, Trump has previously utilized mail-in voting himself in earlier elections and has encouraged his supporters to participate in mail-in voting for the upcoming 2024 elections.
As the 2026 midterms approach, Trump's push to overhaul the U.S. voting system continues to be a focal point of his political agenda, reflecting his commitment to what he perceives as necessary reforms in the electoral process. The implications of his proposed executive order and its potential impact on state elections remain to be seen.
Reporting by Susan Heavey and Maiya Keidan; additional reporting by Nathan Layne. Editing by Gareth Jones and Chizu Nomiyama.
