President Donald Trump has announced a new initiative aimed at eliminating mail-in ballots and voting machines, which he claims are linked to voter fraud. In a recent post on his social media platform, Trump stated, "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." He further argued that these voting machines are ten times more costly than using watermark paper, which, according to him, provides quicker results and eliminates any doubt about the election outcome.
Trump's campaign against mail-in voting is set to commence with an executive order ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. However, any such executive action is expected to face substantial legal hurdles. In his post, Trump emphasized that states act merely as agents of the federal government in counting and tabulating votes, suggesting they are obligated to follow directives from the President for the greater good of the country.
The U.S. Constitution grants state legislatures the authority to regulate the timing, location, and manner of elections, but this is also subject to federal regulations. Trump has consistently expressed skepticism about mail-in voting, often contradicting the views of many within his own party. He has attributed his 2020 election loss to mail-in voting, despite the absence of evidence for widespread fraud.
Studies indicate that fraud in mail-in voting is exceptionally rare, and numerous safeguards are implemented to protect the electoral process. These include signature verification and tracking barcodes on envelopes sent by election officials. Trump's recent comments come on the heels of a conversation he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding mail-in voting in the United States. During their meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, Trump recounted that Putin remarked, "you can't have an honest election with mail-in voting."
Trump also claimed that Putin asserted no country currently employs mail-in voting, despite the fact that Russia itself has its own mail-in voting system. The outcome of Russia's 2024 presidential election, which resulted in a large victory for Putin, has drawn criticism from many Western nations, labeling it as neither free nor fair. The U.S. State Department has stated that these elections occurred in a context of severe political repression, effectively silencing independent voices.
Fiona Hill, a former top adviser to Trump, offered her insights on the matter during an appearance on CBS News' Face the Nation. Hill expressed concern over Putin's attempts to influence U.S. domestic politics, stating, "this is Vladimir Putin, as usual, trying to manipulate U.S. domestic politics." She underscored that Putin aims to sow chaos within the American electoral system as the midterms approach.
