Trump vows to end mail-in ballots, voting machines ahead of 2026 midterms

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday declared that he would spearhead a movement to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines before the 2026 midterm elections, claiming they enable “massive voter fraud” and undermine confidence in the electoral process.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he intends to sign an executive order targeting what he described as “highly inaccurate” and “controversial” voting machines, while advocating a return to traditional paper ballots with watermarks.

“I am going to lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS, and also, while we’re at it, Highly ‘Inaccurate,’ Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial VOTING MACHINES, which cost Ten Times more than accurate and sophisticated Watermark Paper, which is faster, and leaves NO DOUBT, at the end of the evening, as to who WON, and who LOST, the Election,” Trump wrote.

He further argued that the U.S. is “the only country in the world that uses mail-in voting,” claiming other nations abandoned it due to “massive voter fraud.”

“We will begin this effort, which will be strongly opposed by the Democrats because they cheat at levels never seen before, by signing an EXECUTIVE ORDER to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm Elections,” he added.

Trump has repeatedly criticised mail-in voting since the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Joe Biden, though multiple courts and election officials have found no evidence of widespread fraud. His latest announcement signals that election integrity will remain a central theme in his political messaging as the 2026 midterms approach.