Trump Announces Plan to Ban Mail-In Voting and Restrict Voting Machines Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Washington, D.C., August 18, 2025 — Former President Donald Trump revealed his intention to lead a nationwide effort to eliminate mail-in voting and curb the use of voting machines, aiming to implement these restrictions before the 2026 midterm elections.
In a statement issued during a White House Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump declared that an executive order is currently being drafted by “the best lawyers in the country” to ban the use of mail-in ballots, which he described as “corrupt.” He asserted that mail-in voting undermines election integrity, alleging instances where individuals in states like California receive multiple mail ballots, allowing for potential fraud.
“We, as a Republican Party, are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots,” Trump said, emphasizing the urgency for Republicans to “get tough and stop it,” accusing Democrats of relying on mail-in ballots as a crucial factor for their electoral victories.
This announcement reflects a stark reversal from the 2024 election cycle, during which many Republicans, including Trump’s own campaign, encouraged early and mail-in voting to maximize turnout. Despite these past endorsements, Trump continues to claim without evidence that mail-in ballots facilitate widespread voter fraud and contributed to his 2020 election defeat.
Election security experts and multiple investigations have debunked these claims, finding no evidence of rampant fraud linked to mail-in voting. Debra Cleaver, CEO of VoteAmerica, a nonpartisan voter information website, explained that safeguards such as barcodes on outgoing ballots and signature verification processes ensure the authenticity of mail-in ballots.
The U.S. Constitution grants state legislatures the authority to regulate the “times, places and manner” of elections, limiting presidential power to unilaterally impose such nationwide voting restrictions. Legal scholars suggest that an executive order attempting to ban mail-in voting may face significant constitutional challenges.
Trump’s campaign to restrict voting methods follows his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump revealed that Putin told him mail-in ballots were the reason his 2020 election was “rigged.” This assertion is controversial given the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia, including Putin, interfered in past elections to aid Trump rather than undermine him.
Voting machines have also come under Trump’s scrutiny. He demands that states comply with federal directives on election procedures “for the good of our country,” implying potential federal intervention in state-controlled election processes. This stance conflicts with long-standing practices, as states traditionally maintain autonomy over voting technologies and policies.
Government officials point out that many developed democracies, including Germany and Canada, have implemented paper ballots with observable counts to bolster election transparency, and some countries limit mail-in voting strictly to those unable to vote in person. The United States, meanwhile, permits widespread mail-in voting with various safeguards.
Despite his assertions, election security experts warn that banning mail-in ballots could reduce voter participation, especially for citizens facing difficulties voting in person due to health or mobility issues. They stress that improving security measures, rather than restricting voting methods, better serves the goal of upholding election integrity.
This latest push by Trump marks a renewed and contentious chapter in the ongoing debate over voting access and election security in America, setting the stage for legal battles and political disputes heading into the next national elections.