Trump’s Baseless Claims on Mail-in Voting in Debate
During the recent presidential debate, President Donald Trump made several unfounded claims regarding mail-in voting, suggesting that mail carriers are “selling ballots” and that ballots have been “dumped in rivers.” These statements are part of an ongoing campaign to undermine confidence in the electoral process, particularly concerning mail-in ballots.
Election experts have countered Trump’s assertions, emphasizing the security and historical reliability of mail-in voting. Lawrence Norden, director of the Election Reform Program at the Brennan Center for Justice, stated that Trump’s claims are riddled with inaccuracies and that mail-in ballots have been used safely in the U.S. since the Civil War.
In one specific instance, Trump referenced an investigation into discarded military ballots in Pennsylvania, claiming that seven of the nine ballots found were for him. However, the FBI clarified that there was no evidence of a coordinated voter fraud scheme related to this incident. Similarly, Trump’s claims about ballots being found in “creeks” were linked to a non-issue involving trays of mail that were mistakenly misplaced during transit.
West Virginia officials refuted Trump’s claims regarding mail fraud in their state, clarifying that a recent case involved a postal worker altering voter registration applications—not ballots themselves. The state’s Secretary of State reassured voters about the integrity of the election process.
Overall, Trump’s statements regarding mail-in voting are not supported by factual evidence, and experts advise that his rhetoric poses a threat to the democratic process by casting undue doubt on the legitimacy of elections.