US Officials Reject Trump's Plan to Eliminate Mail-In Voting

President Donald Trump announced plans to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines by the 2026 midterm elections, asserting that mail-in voting undermines democracy and promotes fraud, claims that are not supported by evidence or election officials. State and local election officials, including those from Colorado and Illinois, emphasize that election administration is constitutionally a state power and that mail-in voting is secure, accessible, and vital for many voters including the elderly, disabled, military personnel, and overseas citizens. Officials highlighted robust security measures like barcode tracking, signature verification, and secure drop boxes that safeguard election integrity. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and local clerks expressed strong opposition to the president’s proposal, calling it a dangerous overreach and warning it would make elections less secure and less accessible. Legal experts and election officials noted that such an executive order would likely fail in courts due to constitutional protections and federal laws ensuring voting access. The debate has raised concerns about federal overreach and the potential erosion of public trust in elections amid ongoing misinformation about voter fraud.