Trump’s war on mail-in voting: Executive order promised for 2026

President Trump said Monday he will lead a “movement” to scrap mail-in ballots and certain voting machines from U.S. elections, saying paper ballots with watermarks are more reliable. Here’s what you need to know about Trump’s election reform pledge:

The executive order promise

Trump announces comprehensive voting system overhaul:

• Trump said effort would begin with executive order to bring “honesty” to 2026 midterm elections
• Lengthy Truth Social post outlined plans to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines
• “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”
• Trump didn’t elaborate on specific details his executive order will contain

The federal authority claim

President asserts control over state election administration:

• “Remember, the States are merely an ’agent’ for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes”
• Claims states “must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do”
• Assertion challenges traditional state control over election administration
• Position reverses historical Republican resistance to federal election oversight

The Putin meeting connection

Russian leader’s comments influence Trump’s election stance:

• Trump criticized mail-in ballots days after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin
• After summit, Trump told Fox News that Putin referenced potential fraud in 2020 election
• “He said, ’Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” Trump reported Putin saying
• Comments came shortly before Trump’s announcement about election reform movement

The paper ballot preference

Trump touts watermarked paper as superior alternative:

• Wants voters to put election choices “directly on paper and in person”
• Claims voting machines “cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper”
• Says paper ballots are “faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election”
• Argues watermarked paper ballots more reliable than electronic systems

The mail-in ballot statistics

Current usage shows significant portion of electorate votes by mail:

• Nearly a third of voters, 30.3%, cast ballots by mail in 2024 election according to U.S. Election Assistance Commission
• Down from high of 43% during 2020 election but above pre-pandemic levels
• Many states loosened election rules during COVID-19 pandemic to allow mail-in voting instead of long Election Day lines
• Trump’s 2020 election loss occurred during peak mail-in voting period

The fraud allegations history

Trump’s claims stem from disputed 2020 election results:

• Trump’s antipathy for mail-in ballots stems from his 2020 election loss during pandemic
• Railed against procedures as vulnerable to fraud even before 2020 election
• Blamed defeat in part on unproven chicanery involving voting machines
• Trump’s attorney general William Barr said fraud suspicions could not be proven

The Democratic opposition expected

Any federal takeover attempt will face pushback:

• Attempt by Trump to have bigger say over vote-counting will meet Democratic resistance
• Democrats fear president will try to fix midterms in his favor to retain GOP majorities in Congress
• Republicans historically resisted Democratic attempts to give federal government more election control
• Role reversal from traditional party positions on federal versus state election authority

The GOP internal tensions

Some Republicans previously opposed Trump’s mail ballot criticism:

• Some GOP members chafed at Trump’s screed against mail ballots
• Said anti-mail ballot messaging depressed turnout among their own voters
• Internal party tensions over strategy that may hurt Republican electoral prospects
• Balancing Trump’s preferences with practical electoral considerations

The timing and Election Night concerns

Trump wants results determined quickly on Election Day:

• Complained for years that mail-in votes make it difficult to tell who won races on Election Night
• Believes Democrats use mail-in ballots to tilt elections in their favor
• “Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM”
• March executive order required votes counted by Election Day as designated by federal government

The international model reference

Previous executive order cited other developed countries:

• Trump signed executive order in March requiring states to copy practices in other developed countries
• Specifically cited widespread use of paper ballots in other nations
• Required all votes counted by Election Day as designated by federal government
• Positioned U.S. election changes as following international best practices

Read more:

• Trump pledges to rid U.S. of mail-in votes, voting machines, deeming it ’scam’