President Donald Trump posted a pre‑recorded video on his Truth Social account Saturday morning urging Republican voters to cast their ballots using "every appropriate tool," including early voting, mail‑in voting or voting in person on Election Day.
In the clip, Trump said, "If your state has early voting, do not wait. Go out and vote," adding that supporters should "vote early, vote by mail, or vote in person on Election Day." The message comes as the president’s midterm strategy focuses on mobilising his base rather than persuading undecided voters.
A GOP campaign official told CNN last month that the effort is "all a turnout game," noting that campaign committees and the president’s political operation have been sharing data to target the exact people needed to turn out.
Trump’s appeal is notable given his long‑standing criticism of mail‑in voting and his push to limit it since the start of his second term, despite court rulings blocking many of those restrictions. The Supreme Court last month rejected sweeping limits that would have altered how mail ballots are sent ahead of the midterms, after state election officials warned they lacked time to implement the March executive order issued by Trump.
Trump reacted to the decision on social media, calling the country’s mail‑in voting system a "disaster" and a "laughing stock" worldwide, and accusing it of being a "Nation Destroying SCAM." He has also urged Congress to enact the SAVE America Act, a federal elections overhaul bill that has faced bipartisan opposition in the Senate.
Despite his claims of fraud, Trump has continued to vote by mail himself, including in a Florida state House special election in March. In 2024, his campaign launched "Swamp The Vote USA" to promote absentee, mail‑in and early voting, a programme he referenced in his latest video message.
With one month to go before the midterms, more than one million ballots have already been cast. In several states with key Senate or gubernatorial races this fall, Democrats account for a larger share of voters requesting ballots than they did at the same point in 2024, and have been more likely to vote before Election Day in recent years.
As the campaign season heats up, Trump’s call for early and mail‑in voting underscores the importance of turnout in a race that could reshape the balance of power in Congress.
