U.S. President Donald Trump revealed plans on August 18, 2025, to sign an executive order aimed at eliminating mail-in ballots and voting machines for the 2026 midterm elections.
The announcement, made via a post on Truth Social, reflects Trump’s ongoing concerns about election integrity.
He stated that states, which administer federal elections, should follow federal directives as they act as agents for the government.
This move follows a previous executive order in March 2025, which was blocked by federal courts after legal challenges from Democrat-led states.
Trump’s proposed order seeks to replace mail-in ballots and voting machines with watermarked paper ballots, which he claims are more reliable and cost-effective.
Approximately 30.3% of ballots in the 2024 election were cast by mail, a decrease from 43% in 2020, according to a U.S. Election Assistance report.
Critics, including some Democrats, argue that eliminating mail-in voting could limit access for voters, such as the elderly and disabled, who rely on this method.
States hold constitutional authority over election administration, and legal challenges are anticipated if the executive order is enacted.
Trump’s announcement aligns with his long-standing assertions that mail-in ballots contributed to fraud in the 2020 election, claims that have been repeatedly debunked.
In 2022, then-Attorney General William Barr stated that no evidence of widespread voter fraud was found that could have altered the 2020 election outcome.
Despite this, Trump has continued to advocate for changes to the U.S. voting system.
Notably, he voted by mail in previous elections and encouraged supporters to do so in 2024, highlighting a shift in his stance on the practice.