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President Trump Pushes for Mail-in Voting Restrictions Amid Ongoing Misinformation
President Donald Trump has intensified his campaign against mail-in voting, calling for new congressional legislation that would ban the practice in federal elections except in limited circumstances. The proposed bill would permit mail-in voting only for individuals with disabilities, illness, travel obligations, or those serving in the military.
Trump’s renewed push comes with familiar rhetoric that fact-checkers have repeatedly debunked since the 2020 presidential election, which saw expanded mail-in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In multiple recent appearances, Trump has falsely claimed that the United States is the only country that allows mail-in voting. “You know, brought to my attention today that we’re the only country that doesn’t — that does mail-in voting,” Trump stated in a speech on Monday. He repeated this assertion on March 9, saying, “There’s not a country in the world that does mail-in ballots anymore.”
These statements are demonstrably false. Dozens of nations permit some form of mail-in voting, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and Switzerland. Each country implements different systems and safeguards, but the practice is far from unique to the United States.
Trump has also mischaracterized former President Jimmy Carter’s position on mail-in voting. At a recent press conference, Trump claimed, “Frankly, I think it’s probably the best thing Jimmy Carter did. He said, ‘You can’t have mail-in voting because it’s inherently dishonest.'”
The reality is more nuanced. While a 2005 commission co-chaired by Carter did express concerns about potential fraud with absentee ballots, calling them “the largest source of potential voter fraud,” it never recommended eliminating mail-in voting. The commission actually highlighted Oregon’s successful mail-only elections, noting the state “appears to have avoided significant fraud in its vote-by-mail elections by introducing safeguards to protect ballot integrity, including signature verification.”
Carter himself, who passed away in 2024, directly contradicted Trump’s characterization in a 2020 statement, saying, “I approve the use of absentee ballots and have been using them for more than five years.”
Despite his criticism, Trump has utilized mail-in voting personally, casting his ballot by mail in Tuesday’s Florida state House special election. Nevertheless, he continues to describe the practice as inherently corrupt.
“They’re so corrupt,” Trump said in a March 13 Fox News Radio interview. “People don’t want mail-in ballots because you have crooked elections. It guarantees a crooked election.”
Election security experts consistently report that while fraud rates may be marginally higher with mail-in ballots than with in-person voting, the overall incidence remains extremely small in federal elections. Several states with Republican leadership, including Utah, have implemented widespread mail-in voting systems without evidence of significant fraud.
In his critiques, Trump has singled out California, making unsubstantiated claims about ballot distribution. “You go to California, they send out like 38 million ballots. Some Democrats got seven, eight ballots. Republicans are a lot of times calling in, ‘Where’s my ballot, where’s my ballot?’ They’re lucky to get one,” Trump stated last week.
Official records show California had approximately 22.6 million active registered voters before the 2024 election and about 23.1 million by the end of 2025 – significantly fewer than Trump’s claimed 38 million ballots. While distribution errors occasionally occur, California implements verification protocols including signature matching to ensure each eligible voter casts only one valid ballot.
The California Secretary of State’s office has previously explained that “elections officials use protocols to verify the eligibility and identity of the voter prior to sending the vote by mail ballot,” and ballots with signatures that don’t match are not counted until the voter’s identity is confirmed.
As debates over election security continue ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, the disconnect between Trump’s characterizations and the documented realities of mail-in voting remains a significant point of contention in America’s ongoing political discourse.
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14 Comments
Interesting fact check on Trump’s claims about mail-in voting. It’s important to have objective analysis of these types of statements, especially when they relate to the electoral process.
Agreed. Providing accurate information on voting practices in other countries is helpful to understand the broader context.
This analysis highlights the need for continued scrutiny of political rhetoric around mail-in voting. Objective reporting is essential for a healthy democracy.
Well said. Maintaining trust in the electoral process requires transparency and fact-based discussions, not unsubstantiated claims.
This fact check provides a helpful overview of the global context around mail-in voting. It’s a complex topic, and nuanced analysis is needed to separate truth from fiction.
Agreed. Responsible reporting that highlights factual inaccuracies is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our democratic institutions.
This fact check is a timely and important contribution to the ongoing debate around mail-in voting. Objective analysis is crucial for maintaining trust in the electoral process.
Well said. Fact-based reporting is the best way to counter unfounded claims and promote transparent, democratic processes.
It’s concerning to see repeated false claims about mail-in voting, especially from a former president. This fact check helps correct the record and provide important context.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is essential to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure citizens have access to reliable information.
I appreciate the detailed breakdown of Trump’s false claims. It’s crucial that leaders make truthful statements, especially on issues as important as voting rights.
Absolutely. Fact-checking helps hold public figures accountable and ensures citizens have access to reliable information.
While I understand concerns about potential voter fraud, the facts presented here show Trump’s statements are not accurate. Mail-in voting is a common practice in many countries.
Exactly. It’s important to have an informed debate on this issue based on real data, not just partisan rhetoric.