The NPR Politics Podcast Trump Falsely Claims Mail Ballots Are "Corrupt," Calls For Their Prohibition
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Aug 20, 2025 The podcast dives into President Trump's allegations about mail-in ballots being corrupt and his call for their ban. It examines the limitations of presidential power on election administration. The discussion highlights the legal complexities of mail voting and counters common myths surrounding its integrity. There's a heated debate over public trust in elections and the conflicting tactics within the Republican party regarding voting access. Finally, the implications of federalizing election processes and its impact on trust are explored.
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President Lacks Power To Ban Mail Voting
- The president cannot unilaterally change how states run elections because the Constitution decentralizes election administration.
- Legal scholars say any executive order trying to ban mail voting would be illegal and likely struck down.
Mail Ballots Aren't Systematically Corrupt
- There is no evidence that mail-in ballots have corrupted U.S. elections at scale.
- States have added tracking and security measures that make mailed ballots auditable and transparent.
False Claims About Other Countries And Machines
- Trump incorrectly claimed the U.S. is the only country using mail ballots and attacked voting machines without clear specifics.
- Most jurisdictions now use machines with paper trails and tabulators proven more accurate than hand counts.