President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro over recent comments about mail-in voting. During a press conference in Harrisburg, Shapiro stated, “Donald Trump can sign whatever the hell executive orders he wants to sign and make a show out of whatever he wants, but he can’t change the Constitution with an executive order.”
Shapiro emphasized that states hold the authority to set their own election rules as granted by the Constitution. He recalled the bipartisan support that led to the passage of mail-in voting legislation five years ago, notably Act 77 of 2019. “Let me remind you… millions of people have voted by mail,” Shapiro mentioned, reinforcing the idea that mail-in voting has become a staple for many voters in Pennsylvania.
Despite Trump’s recent proclamations against mail-in ballots, Shapiro assured that any directives from Trump would have “no bearing” on election processes within Pennsylvania. He reiterated his commitment to supporting county election officials in allowing mail-in voting across all 67 counties. Shapiro criticized Trump’s actions as manipulative, saying, “For him to try and put more misinformation out there… that is just cynical and wrong.”
Former Pennsylvania House Speaker Bryan Cutler also weighed in, arguing that the original intent of the bipartisan mail-in voting law had been undermined. He accused Democrats and the state Supreme Court of diluting the law and pointed to “security safeguards” that had been removed. Cutler highlighted that the lack of security implementations had weakened the integrity of mail-in ballots.
On Monday, Trump foreshadowed potential changes to the electoral system. He announced intentions to sign an executive order to eliminate mail-in ballots, framing this move as a step toward ensuring “honesty” in future elections. Trump’s comments on social media reflected a view that states serve merely as agents of the federal government.
This ongoing debate points to a stark divide in perceptions of mail-in voting, with powerful implications for the electoral landscape as the future unfolds. Both Shapiro and Cutler represent differing viewpoints on an issue that continues to ignite passion and concern among voters and officials alike.
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