Trump’s Mail-Voting Plea Exposes Republican Midterm Anxiety
Donald Trump urged Republicans to vote early and by mail after months of claiming mail voting was fraudulent. The article says his reversal admits the damage his rhetoric did to GOP early voting, while early-vote data and a new poll show Democrats energized and Trump at a low point.
Trump’s posts urged Republicans to vote early and by mail. This came after months in which he called mail voting fraudulent while promoting the SAVE Act. His effort to curtail vote-by-mail did not succeed.
Michael McDonald, who tracks early voting at the UF Election Lab, said the data shows Democrats and independents are more energized than Republicans. The article also cites a New York Times poll finding Democrats ahead by 11 points and Trump at a new low.
The reversal could affect Republican voters who rely on early or mail ballots, potentially reducing confidence and turnout among them. It may also influence how Democrats and independents perceive momentum, though early-vote data and polls are snapshots, not outcomes. Campaigns and election officials may need to address confusion about mail-ballot security, and the findings could shape fundraising, volunteer activity, and public debate in the closing stretch.