President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled a bold plan to overhaul how elections are conducted in the United States. Speaking at a Long Island event hosted by Fox Nation, where he received the “Patriot of the Year” award, Trump outlined his vision to change election processes dramatically.
“We’re gonna do things that have been really needed for a long time,” Trump declared, emphasizing his goals for “paper ballots, one-day voting, voter ID, and proof of citizenship.” He criticized recent legislation in California that prevents local governments from requiring voter identification at polling stations. “Think of that,” he said. “If you ask a voter for their ID, you’ve committed a crime. We’re gonna get the whole country straightened out.”
This isn’t Trump’s first foray into proposing election reforms. Back in August, at a rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, he advocated for eliminating mail-in ballots in favor of same-day voting and stricter voter ID laws. “We want to get back in and change it all,” he stated. “It’s very simple.”
Currently, 98% of U.S. counties already use paper ballots, according to the Brennan Center. However, the 2024 election highlighted significant changes in voting habits since the COVID-19 pandemic, with record numbers of Americans voting early or by mail—88 million mail-in and early votes were cast nationally. Trump’s focus on restricting mail-in voting and returning to one-day voting contrasts sharply with these trends.
Historically, Trump has been critical of mail-in voting, calling it “dangerous” and “corrupt” and blaming it for his 2020 election loss. Despite evidence to the contrary—voting fraud in the U.S. is exceedingly rare, occurring in less than 0.0009% of cases according to a Brennan Center study—Trump has consistently pushed the narrative of electoral fraud tied to mail-in ballots. However, during the 2024 election, Trump shifted his strategy, encouraging his supporters to vote early, including by mail. This pivot came as Trump sought to consolidate votes in key battleground states, where early and mail-in voting options were increasingly popular.
Trump’s proposals face criticism for their potential impact on various voter groups. Rural voters, who have historically supported Trump and benefit from early voting options, could find one-day voting particularly challenging. Similarly, requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID disproportionately affects nonwhite voters, many of whom face barriers to obtaining the necessary paperwork and often lean Democratic or identify as independents.
As of the 2024 election, 35 states required some form of government-issued ID to vote in person, with 24 mandating photo identification—a four-state increase since 2020. Trump’s plan to expand these requirements is likely to remain a contentious issue, as debates about voter access and election integrity continue to shape the political landscape.
Source: Newsweek
