Trump orders stricter mail-in ballot system ahead of 2026 midterms

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at tightening rules for mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, The New York Times reports.

The order requires states to create verified lists of citizens eligible to vote, with absentee ballots sent only to those on the approved lists. Each ballot will be enclosed in a secure envelope featuring a barcode for tracking.

Speaking at the Oval Office signing ceremony, Trump said, “I believe it’s foolproof, and maybe it’ll be tested. Maybe it won’t. It’s about voter integrity; we want to have honest voting in our country.”

Under the order, the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Social Security Administration, will compile the voter lists. The Department of Justice will investigate any irregularities in mail-in ballot distribution. States that fail to comply could risk losing federal funding.

The directive instructs the Department of Homeland Security to establish and transmit the “state citizenship list” within 90 days, by the end of June, though it remains unclear how these measures will affect primary elections already underway in several states. Midterm election day is scheduled for November 3.

Trump’s executive order comes amid legislative gridlock over the Save America Act, which he strongly supports. The act would require proof of US citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, to register to vote in federal elections.

The president has been a vocal critic of mail-in voting, citing potential for fraud. “We want to have honest voting in our country, because if you don’t have honest voting, you can’t have, really, a nation if you want to know the truth,” Trump said during the signing ceremony.

By Vafa Guliyeva