After Putin's Tip, Trump Vows To Remove Mail-In Ballots From US. Here's How This Voting Works

Last Updated:August 18, 2025, 19:51 IST

Trump has long pressed his fellow Republicans to try harder to overhaul the US voting system.

The mail-in ballot system allows registered voters in the United States to cast their vote without physically visiting a polling booth.(Reuters file)

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would sign an executive order ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, saying he would lead “a movement" targeting mail-in balloting and voting machines across the country.

The president’s comments follow his meeting with his Russian counterpart on Friday, in which Trump said Vladimir Putin agreed with him on ending mail-in balloting.

“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," he wrote in a social media post.

“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 previously signed a March 25 executive order targeting elections that has been blocked by the courts after Democrat-led states sued.

“Remember, the States are merely an “agent" for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes. They must do what the Federal Government, as represented by the President of the United States, tells them, FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY, to do," Trump wrote.

After meeting Putin, Trump gave an interview to Fox News in which he said, “Vladimir Putin said your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting. He said no country has mail-in voting. It’s impossible to have mail-in voting and have honest elections."

Trump, who had earlier claimed that he, not Democrat Joe Biden, won the 2020 election, has long pressed his fellow Republicans to try harder to overhaul the US voting system. He also voted by mail in some previous elections and urged his supporters to do so in 2024, news agency Reuters reported.

How Mail-In Ballot Voting Works In US

The mail-in ballot system allows registered voters in the United States to cast their vote without physically visiting a polling booth. It is widely used across the country, though rules and procedures vary from state to state.

1. Requesting a Ballot

Voters first apply for a mail-in ballot through their state’s election office. Some states automatically mail ballots to all registered voters, while others require an application.

2. Receiving the Ballot

Once approved, the election office sends the official ballot to the voter’s registered address.

3. Filling the Ballot

The voter completes the ballot at home, carefully marking their choices. Instructions differ slightly by state, but accuracy is key to ensure the vote counts.

4. Using Security Envelopes

In most states, the completed ballot is placed inside a secrecy envelope, which is then sealed within a return envelope. The return envelope typically requires the voter’s signature, and in some states, a witness signature or ID copy as well.

5. Returning the Ballot

Voters can return their ballot by:

Mailing it through the US Postal Service

Dropping it in secure ballot drop boxes

Delivering it in person to local election offices or polling places

6. Verification Process

Election officials check the signature (and other details, if required) against voter registration records. If discrepancies arise, some states allow voters to “cure" or correct the ballot.

7. Counting the Votes

Once verified, ballots are scanned and added to the vote count. Many states begin processing mail-in ballots before Election Day, but results are only revealed after polls close.

Key Point: Deadlines, ID requirements, and curing options differ by state, making it essential for voters to follow local election guidelines.

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

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Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 18, 2025, 19:51 IST

News world After Putin's Tip, Trump Vows To Remove Mail-In Ballots From US. Here's How This Voting Works

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