Trump Voted by Mail in Florida Despite Years of Attacking Mail-In Ballots

Records show the former president cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida special election, contradicting his public rhetoric.

Mar. 25, 2026 at 10:33am

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Newly revealed voting records from Palm Beach County, Florida show that former President Donald Trump voted by mail in a recent special election, despite years of criticizing mail-in voting as corrupt and vulnerable to fraud. Trump has frequently warned that widespread mail-in voting could undermine election integrity, but the records indicate he personally relied on the same system he has attacked.

Why it matters

Trump's use of mail-in voting despite his public criticism of the practice highlights a potential contradiction between his political rhetoric and his own voting habits. The revelation has intensified an ongoing debate about election security and accessibility, with supporters arguing Trump used a legitimate option while critics say it undermines his past claims about the dangers of mail ballots.

The details

According to the voting records, Trump did not appear at a polling station to vote in person for the recent Florida special election. Instead, he submitted his ballot through the mail. This contradicts Trump's past statements warning that mail-in voting is "totally corrupt" and could lead to "mail in cheating" and "dishonest elections." Trump has frequently argued that widespread mail-in voting should not be allowed, claiming it could turn the country into a "laughingstock around the world." However, the records show he personally utilized the same voting method he has criticized.

  • Trump cast his mail-in ballot during a recent Florida special election.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has spent years warning Americans that mail-in voting is corrupt and dangerous, but records show he voted by mail in a recent Florida special election.

Justin Levitt

A law professor who studied election integrity data for the Brennan Center for Justice and identified just 31 instances of voter impersonation fraud among roughly one billion ballots cast between 2000 and 2014.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Courts are currently reviewing several cases involving ballot deadlines and election procedures, while lawmakers from both parties are debating how to balance accessibility for voters with safeguards designed to protect election security.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential disconnect between Trump's political rhetoric about mail-in voting and his own personal voting habits, raising questions about the consistency of his position on election integrity. It also underscores the ongoing debate around balancing voter access and election security, which will likely continue to be a major political issue.