Overview

• On August 18, 2025, President Trump announced on Truth Social that he will sign an executive order before the 2026 congressional elections to abolish mail-in voting and voting machines.
• He described mail ballots and voting machines as “highly inaccurate, very expensive and seriously disputed,” despite no supporting evidence and a broad expert consensus finding them reliable.
• U.S. elections are managed by state governments, so any federal edict cannot compel states to change their election laws.
• A similar executive order issued in March was blocked by federal courts after Democratic-led states sued, signaling likely legal obstacles ahead.
• Voting rights advocates warn that eliminating mail voting would disproportionately impact minority and vulnerable populations and reshape turnout ahead of the midterms.