Trump Vows to Change How Elections Are Run. the US Constitution Doesn’t Give Him That Power
President Trump has reignited his bid to overhaul U.S. election procedures, targeting mail-in voting and voting machines via executive action—yet constitutional precedent firmly limits his authority. According to Fast Company, Trump declared he would “lead a movement to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS” and criticized voting machines as “Highly ‘Inaccurate’” and “Seriously Controversial,” all expressed on his Truth Social platform. However, the U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause (Article I, Section 4) grants election rulemaking authority exclusively to states and Congress—not the president—rendering his plan constitutionally invalid.
On August 18, 2025, Trump amplified these remarks with pledges to issue an executive order before the 2026 midterms to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines. Legal scholars emphasize that the president lacks unilateral power to rewrite election regulations, citing explicit constitutional delegation.
Justice and constitutional law experts reinforce that any attempt to overhaul voting systems via executive order is untenable—states maintain control over election administration.
Key Legal Outcomes
| Outcome | Details |
|---|---|
| Unconstitutional overreach | Trump’s vow to eliminate mail-in voting and voting machines conflicts with the Constitution, which entrusts election rules to states and Congress.Fast CompanyAP News |
| Executive authority lacks legal foundation | Scholars assert that presidential orders cannot override state-controlled election laws.AP NewsThe Washington Post |
| Proposals face legal barriers | Trump’s prior executive actions aimed at modifying vote-counting and voter eligibility have already been blocked by courts.The Washington PostAP NewsThe Week |
| State actors primed for resistance | Attorney generals and election officials are expected to challenge any executive overreach in court. |
Outlet & Publication Date
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Fast Company – “Trump wants to change voting. The Constitution says no.”, published today (August 18, 2025)Fast Company
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Additional coverage from AP News and Washington Post published today reinforce constitutional limitations and reaction to Trump’s statementsAP NewsThe Washington Post.
