Trump's Bold Moves on Voting: What's Really Going On?

Recent Developments

• President Donald Trump has announced plans for a new executive order targeting the 2026 midterm elections.
• The order aims to address mail voting and voting machines, systems widely used and trusted for years.

Claims and Facts

• Mail Voting:
• Trump's Claim: "MASSIVE FRAUD"
• Reality: Voter fraud is extremely rare. Only a few hundred cases of potential fraud were found in key battleground states after the 2020 election.
• Voting Machines:
• Trump's Suggestion: Use watermark paper instead.
• Reality: Watermark paper cannot count votes. Most U.S. voters already use paper ballots, which ensure election security.

Legal and Practical Challenges

• Constitutional Power: The U.S. Constitution grants states the power to run elections, not the president.
• Court Rulings: Parts of Trump's earlier executive order on elections have been blocked by courts.
• Congressional Support: Even if Trump's party controls Congress, eliminating voting machines nationwide is unlikely due to practical and political reasons.
• Mail Voting: Widely used in many Republican-leaning states and by military members overseas.

Expert Concerns

• Trump's focus on changing election methods raises concerns about potential interference in future elections.