President Donald Trump has said he will soon sign an executive order eliminating mail-in ballots and voting machines across the United States ahead of the 2026 midterm elections – a move that is expected to spark legal battles and reignite the country’s deep divide over election security.
Trump announced the decision on his social media platform, calling voting machines “inaccurate, expensive, and highly controversial.” He claimed the executive order would mark the beginning of a “movement” to restore what he described as faith in America’s electoral system.
The announcement reflects Trump’s long-standing skepticism about modern voting methods. During the 2020 and 2024 elections, he repeatedly criticized mail-in ballots, alleging without evidence that they were prone to fraud. Electronic voting machines, too, have been a frequent target of Trump and his allies, despite multiple audits and court rulings affirming their accuracy.
The sweeping proposal is expected to face stiff resistance. Election officials across several states have already warned that banning voting machines could be logistically impossible given the scale of U.S. elections and the time constraints before 2026.
Still, the move is likely to energize Trump’s supporters, many of whom remain distrustful of election systems. His announcement comes as Republicans in several states push for tighter voting restrictions, citing election security, while Democrats warn that the measures could undermine democracy.
