In a stunning reversal, Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is now actively promoting early and mail-in voting, methods the former president has long falsely vilified as vulnerable to fraud. With less than a month to go in a tight presidential race against Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s team is urging supporters to vote early and by mail.
A Shift in Strategy
This sudden shift in strategy comes after years of Trump claiming that early and mail-in voting were “dangerous” and “corrupt.” In 2020, he filed several lawsuits to stop states from expanding mail-in voting, citing baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.
The Trump Campaign’s New Messaging
In recent virtual town halls and robocalls, Trump and his daughter-in-law Lara Trump have actively encouraged voters to take advantage of early voting options, including mail-in ballots. At least 286,000 estimated robocalls with this recording were sent to voters in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, and Michigan.
Lara Trump’s Robocall
“Hi, this is Lara Trump calling on behalf of President Trump’s campaign, and we’re urging you to get out and vote before Election Day,” one robocall says.
Expanded Voting Access in North Carolina
The Trump campaign has also asked North Carolina to expand voting access in areas affected by Hurricane Helene. The state legislature passed a bill giving 25 counties additional flexibility to run their elections, including:
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Extended early voting hours
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Temporary voting locations
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Bipartisan teams to help voters request and deliver absentee ballots
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Allowing voters displaced to other counties to cast provisional ballots
Mixed Messages from Trump
However, Trump’s messaging on voting has been inconsistent. Last month, he disparaged early voting while promoting it at the same rally.
“We got to get out and vote. And you can start right away. You know that, right? Now we have this stupid stuff where you can vote 45 days early. I wonder what the hell happens during that 45,” Trump said.
Voting Rights Advocates React
Voting rights advocates are cautiously optimistic about the Trump campaign’s push for expanded voting access.
“It’s great that the Trump campaign was speaking with the same voice as so many others and asking for expansions to voting access in the wake of Hurricane Helene,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, the director of the voting rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Concerns About Intentions
However, Morales-Doyle notes that the campaign’s inconsistent approach raises concerns about their true intentions.
“When you see this flip-flopping on voting, not only does it raise the concern that these policies are based on the politics of who they think will benefit from expanded access… it also makes clear that they know they’re not telling the truth on how expanded access from mail voting or early voting contribute to a denigration of election integrity.”
Georgia and Florida
In contrast, Republicans in Georgia opposed an effort to expand voting access by extending registration deadlines following hurricane damage. A federal judge denied a motion to extend the voter registration deadline.
Conclusion
The Trump campaign’s sudden support for early and mail-in voting has raised eyebrows. While voting rights advocates welcome expanded voting access, they remain skeptical about the campaign’s motivations.