Trump Plans Mail-In Voting Ban Amid Election Integrity Debate

President Donald Trump has launched a campaign to end mail-in voting, labeling it as corrupt and a source of massive voter fraud, despite no credible evidence supporting these claims. He announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at banning mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, asserting that elections cannot be honest with mail-in voting and accusing Democrats of relying on it to win. Trump also criticized voting machines and suggested that ballots should be cast on specialized paper and counted at the state level with national validation. His stance has drawn sharp rebukes from figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Rep. Tim Kennedy, who defend mail-in voting as a secure, convenient method that enhances democratic participation. Experts and constitutional scholars doubt the legality of Trump's proposed executive order, noting that states control election rules and only Congress has the authority to override state election laws. Additionally, Trump's claims about mail-in voting being unique to the U.S. and anecdotes about multiple ballots in California have been debunked by election officials who emphasize the integrity and safeguards present in current systems.