Trump mail-in voting restrictions could impact Democrats more, analysis finds

An analysis by the advocacy group Fair Fight Action suggests that efforts to restrict mail-in voting could disproportionately impact Democratic voters. The study examined data from seven swing states and potential battlegrounds for the 2026 midterm elections, finding that Democrats utilized mail ballots more frequently than Republicans.

In Michigan, for instance, nearly half of the 2 million mail ballots cast in 2024 were from Democrats, compared to 39% from Republicans. In North Carolina, Democrats outnumbered Republicans in mail voting by approximately eight percentage points. These margins are significant given the narrow victory margins in recent presidential elections.

President Donald Trump has sought to limit mail voting through an executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service to enforce new requirements. This move has faced legal challenges; a federal appeals court recently barred the Postal Service from implementing certain restrictions. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the matter. Other strategies outlined in the administration's plan include directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile voter lists and tasking the Justice Department with prosecuting election officials who do not comply with federal directives.