Trump Hypocritically Attacks Mail-In Voting After Casting His Own Ballot By Mail

President Trump’s latest executive order targeting mail-in and absentee voting is a brazen act of authoritarian overreach and hypocrisy. Just days after casting his own ballot by mail in a Florida special election, Trump moved to undermine the very system that millions of Americans rely on to exercise their right to vote safely and securely.

Mail-in voting is not some newfangled scheme. It is deeply woven into the fabric of American democracy, trusted by generations ranging from Civil War soldiers to seniors, people with disabilities, and working parents. California pioneered no-excuse absentee voting back in 1978, and today nearly one in three voters nationwide cast ballots by mail.

Yet Trump’s order demands the creation of federal “eligible voter” lists to be enforced by the U.S. Postal Service—threatening to withhold delivery of absentee ballots in states that don’t comply. This is a dangerous, unconstitutional politicization of a vital public service designed to ensure every eligible vote is counted.

More than 20 states and multiple organizations have rightly challenged this order in court. The Constitution clearly assigns election oversight to states and Congress, not the president. Courts have repeatedly rejected Trump’s attempts to seize control over federal elections, and they should do so again.

This attack on mail voting is part of a broader, sustained campaign to sow distrust in elections and restrict access to the ballot box. From false claims of 2020 voter fraud to illegal ballot seizures and voter roll purges, the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to rig the rules to suppress votes.

The irony is stark: Trump votes by mail himself but wants to deny that option to millions of others. He trusts the system when it serves him but weaponizes it when it threatens his hold on power.

History teaches us that Americans have consistently resisted efforts to limit voting rights—from women’s suffrage to the Voting Rights Act. When rights are under attack, people organize, speak out, and vote. That is why mail voting remains a strength of our democracy, not a vulnerability.

Congress must step up and pass legislation like the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act to block this reckless order and safeguard the right to vote. Trump may try to spread lies and rig the system, but he cannot stop Americans from participating in their democracy.

We stand with the states and advocates fighting to protect mail-in voting and ensure every eligible voice is heard in 2024 and beyond.