‘Not feasible’: With ballots already in the mail, election officials say it is too late for Trump’s USPS order
Politics — 2026-09-04 13:00:00 — www.politico.com
President Donald Trump’s push to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service’s handling of mail-in ballots has once again stirred controversy and legal battles, as North Carolina becomes the first state to send out ballots for the upcoming November election.
Trump’s Executive Order and Unsubstantiated Claims
In March, Trump signed an executive order targeting mail-in voting, a process he has repeatedly alleged—without evidence—is vulnerable to widespread voter fraud. This order sought to give the federal government unprecedented control over state-run elections, requiring the Postal Service to refuse delivery of ballots from states that did not comply with new federal requirements, such as providing lists of eligible mail voters or using approved envelope designs.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Fraud Claims
Despite Trump’s frequent assertions, the excerpt makes clear that his claims of mail-in voting being a “vector for widespread voter fraud” are not supported by evidence. Election officials and experts from both parties have criticized these allegations, warning that they fuel confusion and undermine public trust in the electoral process. As noted by Ben Hovland, a former Democratic commissioner with the Election Assistance Commission, “none of these claims of voter fraud are backed up with facts,” yet they risk causing Americans to lose faith in the voting system.
Legal and Logistical Chaos
Trump’s administration has pressed the courts to allow these new rules to proceed, even as a federal judge’s order has paused their implementation. The administration recently asked the Supreme Court to lift the hold, arguing that the measures are “commonsense” protections for ballot security. However, election officials warn that enforcing such sweeping changes so close to Election Day would create chaos, administrative burdens, and the potential for widespread disenfranchisement. Critics argue that the rule’s requirements—such as last-minute changes to ballot handling and tracking—are impossible to implement in time and would not actually improve election security.
Conclusion: Undermining Confidence, Not Securing Elections
President Trump’s continued push for federal intervention in mail-in voting, based on unsubstantiated claims of fraud, has drawn bipartisan criticism and legal resistance. Election officials stress that these efforts risk sowing confusion, increasing administrative errors, and discouraging voter participation. As the courts weigh the future of Trump’s order, the central fact remains: there is no credible evidence to support the president’s repeated claims of widespread mail-in ballot fraud, and the proposed changes threaten to disrupt the very process they purport to protect.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/04/trump-mail-ballots-order-november-elections-01065234