Trump Vows Election Changes Despite Constitutional Limits

President Donald Trump has vowed to end mail-in voting and the use of electronic voting machines through an executive order, aiming to ensure elections are "honest and fair." He claims paper ballots are faster, cheaper, and more accurate, though experts and officials, including West Virginia's Kanawha County Commissioner Natalie Tennant, argue that Trump lacks the constitutional authority to impose such changes on states and that hand-counted paper ballots can be less accurate. Trump's assertions, widely regarded as false and rooted in conspiracy theories linked to his 2020 election loss, contradict the fact that mail voting and machines were instrumental in his 2024 election victory and Republican gains in Congress. Trump also falsely claimed the U.S. is unique in using mail voting, which is actually employed by many countries, including Germany and the UK. His rhetoric has escalated despite constitutional limits on presidential power over election administration, which primarily falls under state jurisdiction. Additionally, Trump has continued to push these narratives in meetings with foreign leaders and through social media, even as similar claims have led to costly defamation settlements against conservative media outlets for lack of evidence.