Anna Hartz
Trump Promises to Overhaul U.S. Voting Rules Ahead of 2026 Elections
Elections in the United States have always been the subject of debate. Some Americans worry about access to the ballot.
Others focus on security and fraud. Now, President Donald Trump is once again putting voting rules at the center of political life.
“No Exceptions”
On Saturday, Trump announced that he will sign an executive order requiring voter identification for every voter, reports Reuters.
He made the statement on Truth Social. “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS!” he wrote.
He also said mail-in voting would be banned, except for people who are very ill and for members of the military who are far from home.
The American Voting System
The move is not surprising. Trump has been questioning the American voting system for years.
He still claims, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from him. He also says non-citizens have voted illegally, even though studies show such cases are rare.
Electronic or in Hand?
Trump has also spoken out against voting machines. He wants paper ballots and hand counts instead.
Election officials argue that hand counting is slow, costly, and less accurate than machines. Despite these warnings, Trump continues to insist that electronic voting cannot be trusted.
Trump Is Determined
Earlier in August, he had already promised an executive order that would eliminate both mail-in ballots and voting machines. Saturday’s post confirms he intends to follow through.
But it is unclear whether he has the legal power to do it. Federal elections are controlled by the states.
Experts say any sweeping order from the White House will likely face court challenges.
A Matter of Timing
The timing is also important. The United States will hold its next national elections on November 3, 2026. Those races will decide control of Congress and serve as the first big test of Trump’s second term in office.
Democrats hope to win back seats in the House and Senate to limit his power. Republicans want to hold their majorities and protect Trump’s agenda.
Heated Political Climate
For now, Trump’s promise adds fuel to an already heated political climate. The debate over how Americans vote is not new.
But his plan to reshape the system by executive order could trigger one of the biggest election fights in decades.
