President Donald Trump is once again putting election integrity at the center of America’s political conversation.
In a new statement on Truth Social, Trump announced that he will lead a movement to get rid of mail-in ballots and voting machines before the 2026 midterms, replacing them with paper ballots that carry watermarks to verify authenticity.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2025
Trump’s Push for Paper Ballots
Trump made it clear that he sees the current system as unreliable and open to abuse.
“Voting machines are highly inaccurate, very expensive, and seriously controversial,” he said. “They cost ten times more than accurate and sophisticated watermark paper, which is faster and leaves no doubt at the end of the evening as to who won and who lost.”
He argued that the United States should follow the lead of other countries that have abandoned mail-in voting because of fraud concerns.
“We are now the only country in the world that uses mail-in voting,” Trump stated. “All others gave it up because of the massive voter fraud encountered.”
Nevada’s Experience with Mail-In Ballots
Nevadans know this issue all too well.
In 2021, the Democrat-controlled Legislature passed a law making universal mail-in ballots permanent in our state.
That means every active voter on the rolls gets a ballot in the mail whether they ask for it or not. Critics say this invites abuse, especially when voter rolls are not kept up to date.
We’ve seen real examples here.
In 2020, former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt pointed out that ballots were mailed to outdated addresses, and groups like Public Interest Legal Foundation have documented thousands of cases of questionable or duplicate registrations in Nevada.
Even a federal indictment earlier this year underscored the concern: two Nevada residents were charged with committing voter fraud by casting ballots illegally in Minnesota.
That case is a reminder that fraud doesn’t just happen somewhere else – it can happen here, too.
The Case Against Machines
Beyond mail-in ballots, Trump also took aim at voting machines, which he said are a “complete and total disaster.”
Nevada is one of several states that relies heavily on electronic tabulators. Clark County uses Dominion machines, which have been the subject of lawsuits and widespread skepticism from voters.
While election officials continue to defend the machines as secure, many Nevadans remain unconvinced.
A 2023 Rasmussen poll found that 62 percent of voters nationwide believe that cheating likely affected the outcome of the 2020 election, and distrust of machines is a big part of that.
What Opponents Say
Democrats and some election officials argue that mail-in ballots make voting more accessible, especially for seniors and people in rural areas.
They claim there is no evidence of “widespread” fraud and point to court rulings that have upheld state election laws.
But conservatives counter that “widespread” misses the point. Fraud does not have to be massive to tip close races.
In Nevada, where statewide elections are often decided by just a few thousand votes, even small amounts of fraud can swing outcomes.
Trump’s Executive Order Plan
Trump says he plans to sign an executive order that would require states to follow federal direction on how votes are cast and counted.
He argued that states are “merely an agent” for the federal government when it comes to tabulating votes, and that the President has the authority to ensure fair elections.
“This effort will be strongly opposed by Democrats because they cheat at levels never seen before,” Trump warned.
But he promised that he and the Republican Party “will fight like hell to bring honesty and integrity back to our elections.”
Why It Matters for Nevada
Nevada will once again be a key battleground in 2026, with U.S. Senate and House races likely to be decided by razor-thin margins.
If mail-in ballots and machines remain in place, conservatives worry that the same problems that plagued past elections will continue.
As Trump said, “Without fair and honest elections, and strong and powerful borders, you don’t have even a semblance of a country.”
For Nevadans who have watched ballot harvesting, late-night counting delays, and courts brush off challenges, the fight over how we vote is far from over.
And with the 2026 midterms fast approaching, Trump’s call for paper ballots could become one of the biggest political battles in our state.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
