'Inaccurate, very expensive, and seriously controversial': Why does Donald Trump want to 'get rid of' mail-in ballots before the 2026 midterm election?

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he would lead a movement to abolish mail-in ballots and voting machines before the 2026 midterm elections, saying they fueled “massive voter fraud” and undermined confidence in the electoral process.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he planned to sign an executive order aimed at eliminating what he described as “highly inaccurate” and “controversial” voting machines, while pushing for traditional paper ballots with watermarks.

What is Trump’s case for paper ballots?
According to Trump, paper ballots were faster, more reliable, and left “no doubt” about election results. “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,” he posted.

He added that the effort, which he expected Democrats to oppose, would help bring “honesty” to the 2026 midterm elections. “We are now the only Country in the World that uses Mail-In Voting. All others gave it up because of the MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD ENCOUNTERED,” Trump wrote.

Accusations against Democrats Trump argued that states were merely “agents” of the federal government in counting and tabulating votes and insisted they must follow presidential directives “for the good of the country.”

He accused Democrats of relying on mail-in voting to remain competitive due to their “radical left” policies. “With their HORRIBLE Radical Left policies, like Open Borders, Men Playing in Women’s Sports, Transgender and ‘WOKE’ for everyone, and so much more, Democrats are virtually Unelectable without using this completely disproven Mail-In SCAM,” Trump said.

“Elections can never be honest with mail-in ballots or voting machines, and everybody knows it, especially the Democrats,” he added.

Trump’s stance after meeting Putin Trump’s comments came days after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the meeting, Trump said Putin agreed with him on ending mail-in balloting.

"Vladimir Putin, smart guy, said you can't have an honest election with mail-in voting," Trump told Fox News after Friday's Alaska summit.

What is mail-in voting? Mail-in voting allows eligible voters to cast ballots through the postal system. It includes absentee ballots, used when voters cannot reach polling stations due to illness, travel, or other valid reasons, and mail-in ballots, which can be requested by any eligible voter in many states.

A mail-in ballot refers to the actual ballot paper that voters complete and return by mail under this system.

Why does Trump oppose it? Although mail-in voting has long been part of the US election process, Trump has repeatedly attacked it since the 2020 presidential election, claiming it enabled widespread fraud.

However, election officials and courts have found no evidence of large-scale fraud linked to mail-in ballots.

Mail-in voting trends
Despite Trump’s opposition, several Republican-led states, including Florida, have embraced mail-in voting as a secure and convenient method of expanding voter participation. Trump himself voted by mail in previous elections and had encouraged his supporters to do the same for the 2024 presidential election.

Mail-in ballots reached record highs in 2020, when states expanded options amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Usage declined in 2024, according to the US Election Assistance Commission.

In the 2024 general election, more than two-thirds of voters cast ballots in person, while about three in 10 voted by mail. Every US state offers some form of absentee or mail-in ballot option, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.