Trump pushes to eliminate mail-in voting: What it could mean for Ohio voters

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — President Donald Trump is reigniting controversy over election procedures with a recent announcement that he plans to eliminate mail-in ballots — a voting tool that was used by more than 1 million Ohioans last November.

In an August social media post, Trump said he is pushing to end both mail-in ballots and the use of voting machines,

citing unsubstantiated concerns about election integrity. While eliminating mail-in voting, a method that almost one third of Americans used in 2024, would require approval from Congress, the president argues it’s “corrupt.”

“We as a Republican Party are going to do everything possible that we get rid of mail-in ballots,” Trump said while taking reporter questions on Aug. 18. “We’re going to start with an executive order that’s being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots because they’re corrupt.”

Trump supported his argument by claiming the U.S. is the “only country” that uses mail-in voting, a statement that has been widely refuted. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, at least 34 countries — including Australia, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom — offer some form of voting by mail.

How many Ohioans vote by mail?

Ohioans have historically embraced early voting options, including both in-person and mail-in. According to data from Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the November 2024 general election saw 1.1 million voters cast their ballots by mail. Among those, about 518,000 we’re returned by voters aged 65 and older and another 205,000 came from voters aged 55 to 64.

Meanwhile, early in-person voting surged to a new state record in 2024, as 1.54 million voters cast ballots early in person at their county board of elections. Total early votes, including mail-in ballots, reached 2.53 million, the secretary of state’s data shows.

Those statistics demonstrate “the high level of confidence Ohioans have in the convenient and flexible voting options offered leading up to election day,” said LaRose in a release announcing the certification of Ohio’s 2024 results.

“Many states look to Ohio to see how it’s done,” LaRose said. “We delivered on our promise to report 100 percent of the unofficial results on election night, while others took days or weeks to do that. We’re truly the gold standard of election administration.”

Who would be affected?

Trump’s proposed changes could significantly impact several groups in Ohio, including seniors and older adults. Voters 65 and older accounted for nearly half of all mail-in ballots in 2024, making them particularly vulnerable to disruptions in access. Disabled, rural and military voters also often rely on absentee voting due to accessibility or geographic limitations.

Election officials and resources would be heavily impacted, as eliminating mail-in ballots could strain early in-person voting infrastructure. Ohio already saw record-breaking in-person early voting in 2024, and absorbing an additional million voters into that system could increase costs and wait times.

A politically risky move?

Despite Trump’s criticism of mail-in voting, data from the 2024 election suggests the issue may not cut cleanly along party lines. More Republicans than Democrats in Ohio cast absentee ballots by mail last November, the secretary of state’s data shows. Eliminating that option could risk disenfranchising voters in Trump’s own base, particularly older and rural voters who tend to favor mail voting for its convenience and accessibility.

The timing of Trump’s proposal also overlaps with a critical moment in Ohio, as the state is preparing for a new round of redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections.

Ohio is unique in being the only state required to redraw its congressional map in 2025, a legal consequence of the 2022 map’s adoption without bipartisan support under redistricting reform laws. Such maps last only four years; the new map will govern congressional elections through 2030 and likely shape the battleground for control of the U.S. House. 

Under Ohio’s constitutional redistricting process, the legislature has until roughly Sept. 30 to pass a congressional map with a three‑fifths majority, including support from both parties. If that fails, the Ohio Redistricting Commission steps in with only a month to agree. If that also fails, the legislature makes a simple‑majority map, but it then lasts only four years.

Restricting mail-in voting during a redistricting cycle could amplify its impact, particularly if newly drawn districts are more competitive. LaRose said in another release that the November 2024 election in Ohio saw several extremely close races, resulting in either a tie or a winner decided by three votes or fewer. In total, 23 local races triggered automatic recounts.

“Never let anyone tell you a single vote doesn’t matter, which is why we continue to make sure it is both easy to vote and hard to cheat in the Buckeye State,” said LaRose. “By doing our part to protect the vote, we are also protecting your voice to ensure the outcome accurately reflects the will of the community.”