North Carolina Set to Mail The Fall’s First Ballots As Trump Tries to Restrict Them
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-09-04 05:29:00 — www.nytimes.com
Donald Trump’s False Claims About Mail Voting Persist as North Carolina Begins Sending Ballots
As North Carolina becomes the first state to send out mail ballots for the upcoming election, the Trump administration is escalating efforts to restrict vote-by-mail practices, citing unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. President Trump has repeatedly promoted false claims of mail voting fraud, despite voting by mail himself in two elections this year.
False Claims and Political Motives
Trump has asserted, without evidence, that mail voting is rife with fraud and that tens of thousands of noncitizens are illegally registered to vote. These claims have been widely debunked, yet they continue to shape his administration’s push for new restrictions. The administration is attempting to enforce a rule that would require states to hand over voter data and use specific ballot envelopes for verification, threatening to withhold mail delivery of ballots in noncompliant states.
Impact on the Election Process
The timing of these proposed changes has drawn criticism from election officials across the country. With only nine weeks until the election, many states say it is impossible to comply with the new requirements. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the rule, warning it could cause “major disenfranchisement” of voters. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has made an emergency request to the Supreme Court to allow the rule to take effect, arguing that the freeze harms the government and the public.
Political Strategy and Consequences
While Trump claims his goal is to protect election security by disqualifying ineligible voters, he has also suggested that restricting mail voting would benefit Republicans. This stance has led opponents to believe the administration’s actions are intended to interfere with the election results, particularly as Democrats have increasingly relied on mail voting in recent years.
Conclusion
Despite repeated false claims from President Trump about mail voting fraud, there is no evidence to support his assertions. The administration’s ongoing efforts to impose new restrictions have raised concerns about voter disenfranchisement and the integrity of the election process. As North Carolina and other states move forward with mail voting, the legal and political battles over access to the ballot continue to intensify.