Trump Renews Call to Ban Mail-In Voting, But GOP Strategists Warn of Risks

Former President Donald Trump is once again pushing to end mail-in voting, a move he says is critical for protecting election integrity and ensuring Republicans remain competitive. But within the GOP, the idea of banning mail-in ballots is sparking debate—with some warning it could backfire on the party.

Trump recently told reporters that Republicans should view mail-in voting as a greater threat than even redistricting battles. During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump veered into the topic, insisting that “if you have mail-in voting, you’re not going to have many Democrats get elected. That’s bigger than anything having to do with redistricting and the Republicans have to get smart.”

The former president has consistently tied his 2020 loss to the expansion of mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, when states across the country loosened absentee ballot rules. Mail-in participation hit record highs that year, with Democrats especially taking advantage of the option. Trump has argued ever since that the system benefits Democrats, opens the door to fraud, and undermines public confidence in elections.

But some Republican operatives are urging caution. While grassroots GOP voters remain highly skeptical of the practice, strategists note that millions of Republican voters—including seniors, military families, and rural residents—depend on absentee ballots. Discouraging them from using mail-in voting, they argue, could suppress the GOP’s own turnout in tight races.

“It wouldn’t be good for Republicans,” one Republican strategist admitted, pointing to states like Florida, where the party has historically dominated mail-in voting. “If Democrats are fully embracing it and we’re telling our voters to sit it out, we’re essentially handicapping ourselves.”

The tension reflects a broader challenge for Republicans: how to balance voter confidence in the security of elections with the realities of modern campaigning. Several GOP-led states, including Georgia and Texas, have pursued reforms that tighten mail-in ballot procedures—adding ID requirements, limiting drop boxes, and strengthening verification systems—without banning the practice outright. These reforms aim to address concerns over fraud while still giving voters the option to cast ballots by mail.

PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL VADON / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / CC BY-SA 4.0

Meanwhile, Democrats continue to pour resources into mail-in voting education and ballot-chasing operations, treating it as a central piece of their turnout machine. If Republicans fail to match that effort, analysts warn, the GOP could lose ground in closely contested swing states.

The debate ultimately boils down to a question of strategy: should Republicans seek to eliminate mail-in voting altogether, or work to ensure their voters feel confident using it? Trump’s push for a national ban highlights his unwavering focus on the issue, but it also puts GOP candidates and party leaders in a difficult position as they look toward the 2024 elections.

For now, the party remains divided—caught between concerns about election security and the practical need to compete using every tool available.