Trump Returns Mail-In Ballot Ahead of Florida Primary

President Donald Trump asked for a mail-in ballot in late July and, according to Palm Beach County voting records, returned the ballot in mid-August before the Florida primary. The ballot was cast in the special election for the state House seat vacated by Republican Mike Caruso, contested by Democrat Emily Gregory and Republican Jon Maples. This marks the second time Trump has returned a mail-in ballot while publicly decrying mail-in voting as fraudulent.

The Hill

Trump has repeatedly asserted that mail-in voting enables election fraud, labeling it “mail-in cheating” during the 2020 pandemic election. In March, he signed an executive order intended to tighten mail-in voting rules, requiring states to notify the U.S. Postal Service of eligible voters at least 60 days before the midterms. In June, U.S. Despite his criticism, Trump voted by mail from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach County in March.

The Hill

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales emphasized the administration’s priority on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, noting its provisions that allow mail-in voting for illness, disability, military service, or travel. Wales described the ballot return as “a non-story,” reiterating that the president resides in Palm Beach but primarily lives at the White House. Judge Talwani’s ruling, cited in the court opinion, underscored that the executive order’s restrictions were not enforceable in the affected states.

The Hill

• “No, I think mail-in voting is a terrible thing,” — President Trump

The Hill

• “Rules for me that don’t apply, but not for thee,” — Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries

The Hill