Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Oct 4: US President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to use “every appropriate tool” to cast their ballots in the upcoming midterm elections, including early and mail-in voting methods he has historically criticised.
In a pre-recorded video posted on his Truth Social account on Saturday, Trump called on Republican voters to participate in the elections and encouraged those in states offering early voting not to wait until Election Day.
“If your state has early voting, do not wait. Go out and vote,” Trump said, urging voters to “vote early, vote by mail, or vote in person on Election Day.”
Trump's appeal is notable given his longstanding criticism of mail-in voting and his efforts since the beginning of his second term to restrict the practice. Several of those efforts have faced legal challenges and been blocked by courts.
The president's midterm strategy has focused heavily on mobilising his political base rather than persuading undecided voters to support Republican candidates. A Republican campaign official told CNN last month that the election strategy was primarily about turnout, with campaign committees and Trump's political operation sharing voter data to identify and mobilise supporters.
The US Supreme Court last month rejected sweeping restrictions sought by the Trump administration that would have changed how mail ballots are sent to voters ahead of the midterm elections. State election officials had warned that they did not have sufficient time to implement provisions stemming from an executive order issued by Trump in March.
Reacting to the ruling, Trump criticised the US mail-in voting system on social media, describing it as a “disaster” and making unsubstantiated claims about widespread fraud.
Trump has also pressed Congress to impose restrictions on mail-in voting through the SAVE America Act, a federal election overhaul bill that has faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate.
Despite his criticism of mail voting, Trump himself has continued to use the method. He voted by mail in a Florida state House special election in March.
This is not the first time Trump has promoted voting methods that he has criticised at other times. During the 2024 election campaign, his campaign launched the “Swamp The Vote USA” initiative to encourage absentee, mail-in and early voting. Trump referred to the initiative in his latest video.
With one month remaining before the midterm elections, more than one million ballots have already been cast. In several states featuring key Senate and governor races, Democrats account for a larger share of voters requesting ballots than at the same stage in 2024.
Democrats in recent years have generally been more likely than Republicans to vote before Election Day.