Kamala Harris accuses Trump of hypocrisy on mail ballots: ‘He is afraid of voters’ power’

WASHINGTON, DC: Kamala Harris says Donald Trump is being hypocritical and using fear-based tactics to limit mail-in voting, even though he reportedly used the method himself. This comes as the US midterm elections draw closer.

Harris said this week that there is a contradiction at the heart of Trump’s approach. The comments come as Democrats fight a new executive action targeting mail-in ballots, saying it could make it harder for millions of voters to cast their ballots.

Kamala Harris says Trump fears voters ahead of midterms

Harris suggested the restrictions are rooted in electoral anxiety rather than policy concerns. “He is afraid of your power and he is afraid of losing the midterms,” she said.

“Donald Trump basically issued an executive order to attack your ability to vote by mail. And of course the reality is that he goes down to his resort at Mar-a-Lago and does what he votes by mail.” 

“So he wants to be able to do it, but he doesn't want you to. Why do you think that is? Cause he is afraid of your power and he is afraid of losing the midterms.”

Her comments align with a growing Democratic argument that changes to voting laws led by Republicans are meant to affect turnout rather than make elections safer.

Since absentee ballots became more widely available during the pandemic, the debate over mail-in voting has been highly contentious. Republicans often raise concerns about fraud, while Democrats stress the need for accessibility.

Voter restriction 'playbook' claims fuel election debate

Harris argued that the current push fits into a longer historical pattern of limiting voter access.

She referenced past practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests, as well as more recent controversies over voter roll purges and polling location changes.

“And you know, this is not new. It's part of a playbook that they've been running for decades. whether it was the poll tax, literacy tests, what they're trying to do around purging the voter rolls, and then what they've been doing to basically play a shell game and change polling locations.”

According to Harris, such tactics can create confusion and barriers for voters, particularly when polling places are relocated or closed without sufficient notice.

Harris urged voters to take steps in advance to ensure they can vote without any problems. 

She advised Americans to check their voter registration status, confirm where they need to vote ahead of time, and remind their friends and family to do the same.

“So bottom line, check your voter registration status, ask your family members, your friends to do the same.”

Harris framed the issue in stark political terms, suggesting the restrictions are rooted in electoral anxiety rather than policy concerns. “And let's just do what we know we need to do, which is use our voice, use our vote to express the will of the people."