Trump Signs Order to Limit Mail-in Voting Ahead of Midterms

The executive order aims to create a federal list of approved absentee voters, sparking legal challenges from Democrats.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:32am

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A vibrant, abstract painting in red, white, and blue featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes representing a ballot box, mailbox, and gavel, conveying the divisive political tensions around voting rights.The president's executive order on mail-in voting has set the stage for a legal battle that could impact voter access and turnout in the upcoming midterm elections.Washington Today

President Trump has signed an executive order that directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to compile a federal list of approved absentee voters. The Postal Service would then only be allowed to send mail-in ballots to people on this list. The order also threatens to cut federal funds from states that refuse to comply. The move is expected to face immediate legal challenges from Democrats who call the order unconstitutional.

Why it matters

The order is part of Trump's ongoing efforts to assert more federal control over elections, which he has repeatedly claimed are plagued by widespread voter fraud, despite a lack of evidence. This could have major implications for voter access and turnout in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake.

The details

The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to create a federal list of approved absentee voters. It instructs the Postal Service to only send mail-in ballots to people on this list. The order also directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate and prosecute "election officials, individuals, and other entities that violate the law by issuing or distributing Federal ballots to ineligible voters." States that refuse to comply could have their federal funding cut.

  • The executive order was signed by President Trump on April 1, 2026.

The players

President Trump

The former president who signed the executive order aimed at limiting mail-in voting.

Marc Elias

A leading Democratic voting-rights attorney who plans to sue over the order, calling it unconstitutional.

Tobias Read

The Democratic secretary of state in Oregon, which has voted entirely by mail since 1998, who accused Trump of trying to violate states' rights to run elections.

David Becker

A former Justice Department lawyer who leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research, and believes the order will be blocked in court as the president has no power over state elections.

Pam Bondi

The Attorney General who is directed by the order to investigate and prosecute election officials and entities that distribute federal ballots to ineligible voters.

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What they’re saying

“If Trump signs an unconstitutional Executive Order to take over voting, we will sue. I don't bluff and I usually win.”

— Marc Elias, Democratic voting-rights attorney

“We don't need decrees from Washington, DC. My message to the President: We'll see you in court.”

— Tobias Read, Democratic Secretary of State, Oregon

“The Constitution is very clear—the president has no power over elections in the states. This will be blocked as soon as lawyers can get to the courthouse.”

— David Becker, Former Justice Department lawyer, Center for Election Innovation and Research

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide in the coming weeks whether to issue an injunction to block the executive order from taking effect, as legal challenges are expected to move quickly through the courts.

The takeaway

This order represents the latest attempt by President Trump to exert more federal control over elections, despite a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud. The legal battles over this order could have significant implications for voter access and turnout in the 2026 midterm elections.