Trump casts mail-in ballot in Florida while denouncing mail voting as ‘cheating’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Tuesday, March 24, cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida state House special election, even as he continues to criticize the voting method.
According to Palm Beach County records, the ballot was submitted earlier this month and counted.
His vote coincided with renewed remarks questioning the integrity of mail-in voting. The development comes as Trump pushes for tighter restrictions on absentee voting through proposed federal legislation.
Trump votes by mail while criticizing the system
Public records show Trump voted by mail in the special election for Florida House District 87, which includes his Mar-a-Lago residence.
The ballot was cast earlier this month and confirmed as counted by local officials. He had also voted by mail in the primary for the same election in January.
The move comes despite Trump’s continued criticism of mail-in voting. Speaking at a roundtable event, he said, “Mail-in voting means mail-in cheating. I call it mail-in cheating, and we got to do something about it all.” He also suggested that the United States is unique in allowing widespread mail-in voting.
Trump has repeatedly argued, without providing evidence, that mail-in voting is susceptible to fraud. His stance has been a central element of his broader push for election reforms.
He has promoted the “SAVE America Act,” a proposal aimed at tightening voting requirements, including limiting no-excuse mail-in voting and imposing stricter identification rules.
In previous statements, Trump has distinguished between absentee ballots and broader mail-in systems.
“Absentee ballots are good, universal mail-ins when you get inundated with these things are bad and will lead to terrible things, including voter fraud, etcetera,” he said.
A spokesperson for the White House said Trump’s participation in Florida elections reflects his residency in Palm Beach, while noting that he primarily resides in Washington, DC. “This is a non-story,” the spokesperson said.
Vote comes as Trump pushes restrictions on Mail-In Voting
Trump’s use of a mail-in ballot comes as he continues to advocate for changes to election laws at the federal level.
The proposed SAVE America Act seeks to impose new restrictions on mail voting, including requiring specific conditions such as “ILLNESS, DISABILITY, MILITARY, OR TRAVEL” to qualify for absentee ballots.
The legislation faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, where it is expected to encounter significant opposition. At the same time, legal challenges related to mail-in voting are ongoing.
The US Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case concerning deadlines for mail ballots, a decision that could have broader implications for election procedures.
Trump has framed his proposed reforms as necessary to ensure election security. In recent remarks, he described the issue as critical, linking it to broader concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
Voting records indicate that Trump has used mail-in ballots in the past, including during the 2020 presidential primary. In more recent elections, however, he has alternated between voting methods, including casting ballots in person.
