Can Trump's New Executive Order Remix How America Votes in 2026?
August 18, 2025 – Washington, D.C.
Ex-US President Donald Trump has made a far-reaching new offer that can potentially revolutionize how Americans vote during the upcoming 2026 midterm election. Central to this offer is a proposed executive order aimed at stopping mail-in votes and electronic voting machines, the two used voting systems Trump has been targeting with his dissent for several years.
In Trump's opinion, the measure is intended to "restore faith" in the election process. The argument he makes is that mechanisms now are vulnerable to fraud, inefficiency, and manipulation — claims strongly refuted by election officials and independent audits.
What's in the Proposal?
While the full text of the executive order has yet to be released, Trump's public statements and campaign officials suggest it will have the following:
A phase-out of the majority of mail-in vote methods, citing what he calls "unverifiable votes."
A ban on vote-read machines using QR codes, barcodes, or internet access.
A mandate that all ballots be made of paper, possibly even including security watermarks.
An attempt to enhance ID laws and same-day verification of ballots.
Trump has framed the order as a "federal safeguard," contending that elections are too important to be left to state officials.
State Control vs. Federal Power
The constitutional challenge to this presidential action could be among the closest at hand. Under the law of the United States, states bear the responsibility for conducting and organizing elections. Legal experts are of the view that any action from the federal executive to replace state-conducted systems will attract lawsuits in terms of federal overreach.
Many Democrat and Republican state election officials have already sounded the alarm. Some recommend a transition to voting machines less than a year before the election could be confusing, cause technical issues, and reduce voter turnout.
Legal and Political Responses
It is described by critics as political rather than pragmatic and designed to energize Trump's political base and revisit disputes over the legitimacy of prior elections Civil rights organizations said that they are willing to go to court, particularly if the order restricts access to the ballot for vulnerable populations.
Can an Executive Order Actually Change Voting Laws?
Not so fast. Executive orders are shallower in authority and can't pre-empt state legislatures or the U.S. Constitution. Any attempt to impose national changes outside of congressional approval or a court ruling is bound to be met with quick legal challenges.
Earlier efforts to revise election rules via executive action—under both Republican and Democratic administrations—have collapsed or were diluted significantly after passing through the courts.
What's Next?
If signed, the order would probably be appealed to federal court within a matter of days. Some of the Republican states may willingly obey, but others, especially those with Democratic majorities, will likely resist.
The action has already sparked the national discussion about election integrity, voter suppression, and the balance of federal-state power. That debate will only pick up speed as the 2026 midterms come closer.
🧠Final Thought
Whether Trump's executive order becomes law or is just symbolic, its political impact is certain. In a time when American trust in democratic institutions remains tenuous, efforts at rebranding voting procedures will be watched closely by friends and adversaries alike.