Trump Calls on Republican Governors to Require Paper Ballots, Escalating Push for Election Overhaul
Former President Donald Trump is tightening the screws on election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. On Thursday, he publicly called for every Republican governor in the nation to adopt paper ballot voting systems. “We must fend off the cheating and fraud,” he stated in a widely shared social media post. This call for action comes amid his continuous campaign for election reform.
Trump’s push follows a series of executive orders he signed recently that target U.S. election laws. These orders propose stricter voter ID requirements, a ban on QR-code-based ballots, and the need for proof of citizenship to vote. Furthermore, they tie federal funding to state compliance with these new regulations. Despite the absence of verified evidence supporting claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election, Trump insists that reform is vital.
Push for Paper Ballots in the States
The demand for paper ballots coincides with a June 2023 executive order that sought to reform federal election standards. This order requires that all ballots be received by Election Day and mandates “voter-verifiable” paper records as opposed to electronic alternatives. The rationale echoes concerns often voiced by Trump supporters, who argue that digital systems are susceptible to manipulation. Mike Lindell, a key ally, called for the paper-only requirement to address issues with what he deemed “sick elections.”
While some Republican governors are moving toward paper ballot mandates, many states still heavily rely on electronic voting systems, including prominent Republican-led Georgia. However, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has expressed support for the federal order, labeling it a “great first step for election integrity reform nationwide.”
Federal Mandates and State Control
The U.S. Constitution allows states to control the administration of elections. Yet, Trump’s executive orders attempt to reshape election procedures using federal agency power, such as leveraging law enforcement and funding guidelines to encourage state-level compliance. This ambition has drawn criticism from officials like Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who labeled the federal order mandating proof of citizenship as “unlawful.” “This is nothing more than an attempt to stop Americans from voting,” she asserted.
The June executive order mandates that all voter registration applicants provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or passport. The implications of this order may affect over 21 million Americans who may not have the required documents, including women who changed their names or naturalized citizens whose identities have shifted.
Support for Trump’s initiative exists as well. Rep. Bryan Steil from Wisconsin welcomed the measures, viewing them as essential for securing elections and preventing outside influences. The current plan involves identifying non-citizen voters and enabling state election officials to purge or block registrations accordingly.
Ballot Receipt and Processing Restrictions
Moreover, Trump’s June 6 order introduced new election standards that stipulate all ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, eliminating grace periods for mail-in ballots employed by 18 states, including California. This change would render late-arriving ballots uncountable, even if postmarked by the deadline. Attorney General Pam Bondi was directed to enforce these laws aggressively, even penalizing those who fail to comply.
Legal and Political Blowback
The broader election-related initiatives have already sparked legal resistance. Marc Elias, a recognized elections attorney, has vowed to challenge these orders legally. Rep. Joe Morelle echoed that sentiment, deeming the order both illegal and “immoral.” Concerns linger regarding the balance of power between federal and state authorities, as many legal experts assert that state governance of elections typically overshadows executive mandates without congressional approval.
Rick Hasen, an election law professor at UCLA, cautioned that rules risking disenfranchisement of eligible voters would face legal scrutiny. He stated, “These types of sweeping mandates—particularly proof-of-citizenship laws—have historically run into serious constitutional problems.”
Mixed Response from Republican Officials
Reactions among Republican officials are varied. While Trump’s insistence on paper ballots resonates with longstanding party concerns about election integrity, it has not gained unanimous support. Some officials warn of potential costs in overhauling state infrastructure and express concerns that imposing a full paper system could slow election results and burden resources in rural areas.
Nevertheless, Trump’s demand may escalate pressure on Republican governors to align their procedures with federal directives. The Republican National Committee (RNC) is already stepping up its investigations into voter rolls across multiple states, likely increasing scrutiny regarding adherence to Trump’s election guidelines as primary elections approach.
No Broad Evidence of Fraud, But Growing Concern
The insistence on election reform parallels the narrative of widespread voter fraud, despite a lack of supportive evidence. Numerous audits and legal challenges after the 2020 election in battleground states such as Georgia and Arizona revealed no fraud that could have affected the outcome. Yet, Trump and his followers have framed election security as a critical issue for Republican voters. A 2023 Pew Research Center poll highlighted that 68% of Republican respondents view voter fraud as a significant problem, in stark contrast to only 15% of Democrats.
Data from the Heritage Foundation between 2020-2025 documented 217 verified fraud cases nationwide, representing a minuscule fraction of the more than 300 million ballots cast, primarily involving isolated issues like double voting or forgery rather than any organized efforts.
Strategic Implications
By directly calling for Republican governors to enforce paper-only voting systems, Trump seeks to solidify his federal initiatives within state practices, potentially circumventing legal obstacles and bolstering partisan control over election mechanics. Should Republican-led states respond in kind, it could set an informal standard and exert pressure on swing and Democrat-led states through comparative practices and media focus.
As Trump positions himself for a potential political comeback, ensuring what he terms as “secure elections” through stringent procedures remains essential to his agenda and a testament to GOP loyalty. “This country is so sick because of the fake elections and the bad elections,” he observed as he enacted the June executive order. “We’re going to straighten it out one way or the other.”
The direction of American elections hangs on the responses of Republican governors to Trump’s call and how swiftly the court system addresses the legality of these executive actions.
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