Overview

• On August 18, President Trump declared he will lead a movement to eliminate mail-in voting and many electronic voting machines by signing a forthcoming executive order for the 2026 midterms.
• He repeated unsubstantiated claims of “massive fraud” in mail ballots and voting machines, including the false assertion that the United States is the only country using postal voting.
• Trump argued that states act as mere “agents” of the federal government in counting ballots, a claim that legal experts say conflicts with the Constitution’s assignment of election administration to states.
• A March 25 executive order aimed at restricting mail-in ballot counting was blocked by federal courts, and rights groups predict any similar new order will face swift lawsuits.
• Voting rights advocates warn that banning mail ballots could disenfranchise seniors, disabled voters, military families and overseas Americans after roughly one-third of 2024 votes were cast by mail.