In Florida, Donald Trump (here at a Cabinet meeting last January) voted by mail while advocating for a reform aimed at limiting its use. (Context: Former President Donald Trump cast a mail-in vote in a local election in Florida despite his public opposition to widespread mail-in voting.)
A choice that comes as he pushes for an electoral reform aimed at restricting this mode of voting. The American president is prioritizing the “SAVE America Act,” a proposal that seeks to tighten access to voting by requiring proof of citizenship to register and limiting the use of mail-in voting. (Fact Check: The “SAVE America Act” is a proposed legislation supported by Trump that aims to change voting procedures in the United States, including mail-in voting restrictions.)
At the White House, the president’s associates confirm this vote but try to downplay its significance. A spokesperson refers to it as a “non-issue,” noting that Trump lives in Washington but is still registered in Florida. They also highlight that the reform Trump is advocating for includes exceptions, such as in cases of travel, illness, or military service. (Fact Check: Trump’s team tries to justify his mail-in vote by pointing out that he was in Florida during the weekend before the local election, where in-person early voting was still an option.)
In 2020, when asked about his own use of mail-in voting, Trump responded, “I can vote by mail. I have the right to do so.” Since his defeat this year, the Republican president claims, without evidence, that mail-in voting facilitates large-scale fraud. (Fact Check: Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of widespread mail-in voting fraud have been widely refuted, with studies showing minimal electoral fraud in the United States, including in mail-in voting systems.)
The “SAVE America Act” aligns with this narrative, with supporters aiming to “secure” elections, while critics argue that it could complicate voting access for millions of Americans, particularly those without easy access to citizenship documents or married women who have changed their last names. (Fact Check: Critics argue that the proposed legislation could disenfranchise certain groups of voters and make it harder for them to participate in elections.)
This bill is currently being debated in the Senate.
