US President Donald Trump announced Monday that he plans to issue an executive order banning mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines before the 2026 midterm elections — a proposal that could reshape the electoral landscape but faces significant legal hurdles.

In a social media post, Trump declared his intent to “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and eliminate voting machines, which he called “Highly Inaccurate, Very Expensive, and Seriously Controversial.” Later at the White House, he confirmed that a draft executive order is in progress and urged Republican lawmakers to rally behind the measure if they want to “retain power.”

The 2026 midterms will be the first nationwide test of Trump’s policies since his return to office in January, with Democrats aiming to win back the House and Senate to blunt his domestic agenda.

While Trump claims states are “agents” of the federal government when conducting elections, constitutional experts dispute that interpretation. Richard Pildes, a professor of constitutional law at New York University, emphasized: “The President has no power constitutionally to dictate to states the manner in which they conduct national elections.”

Under the Constitution, elections are administered at the state level, and only Congress has authority to regulate federal election procedures. Trump’s plan is expected to draw swift legal challenges from states.

Mail-in ballots are used disproportionately by Democratic voters, meaning Trump’s push is widely seen as a partisan attempt to tilt the playing field. He has long cast doubt on their security, despite extensive evidence showing voter fraud is exceedingly rare.

Similarly, Trump has attacked voting machines, calling instead for paper ballots and hand counts — a process election officials say is slower, costlier, and less reliable than machine tabulation.

The executive order is part of a wider effort by Trump and his allies to shape the midterm battlefield. He has also urged Republican-controlled states like Texas and Indiana to redraw congressional districts to strengthen GOP advantages.

Though the legality of Trump’s proposed order remains uncertain, the announcement underscores his ongoing attempts to reframe the legitimacy of US elections and consolidate partisan control ahead of 2026.