Trump says lawyers are drafting executive order to end mail in voting

Update — 19 Aug 2025 (TRT): President Donald Trump said his lawyers are drafting an executive order to “get rid of” mail‑in ballots (and voting machines), a move he previewed alongside remarks after meeting Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy and in posts on his social platform. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Key points

• The White House message signals a push to restrict mail voting ahead of the 2026 midterms; reporting notes the order’s legality is uncertain and would face swift lawsuits. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
• Trump tied his stance to claims—echoed by Vladimir Putin—that postal ballots “rig” elections, assertions contradicted by expert reviews and prior court findings. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Can a president end mail‑in voting by executive order?

Likely not. U.S. elections are run by the states under the Constitution’s Elections Clause; Congress may set or alter rules, but the president cannot unilaterally ban a voting method set in state law. Legal scholars say such an order would be quickly enjoined. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Recent context

In March 2025, Trump issued an elections executive order that drew immediate litigation and partial court blocks—illustrating how fast federal courts scrutinize White House moves in this domain. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

What to watch

• Text of any new order and whether it targets federal agencies, the Election Assistance Commission, or state practices directly. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
• State and civil‑rights lawsuits challenging preemption of state election laws. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
• Further statements from the White House and Congress on mail voting and voting machines. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Sources: Guardian, Reuters, ABC News/AP, Time, Northeastern University, Brennan Center, NCSL, and the Constitution Annotated (accessed 19 Aug 2025).