Trump’s Conflicting Views on ‘Stupid’ Early Voting Emerges

Donald Trump continues to send mixed signals about early voting.

Throughout his political career, Trump has criticized mail-in voting and various forms of early voting, labeling them as suspicious and unreliable. However, as he finds himself trailing Kamala Harris in the polls, Trump and his party have occasionally prompted voters to utilize early voting options.

This pattern was evident during a recent rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, where Trump addressed a large crowd.

At one point, he urged attendees to vote early, saying, “We’re here today because early voting begins in Pennsylvania over the next two weeks, and we need each and every one of you to go out. Just don’t take anything for granted.”

However, during the same speech, he expressed his disdain for early voting, which was used by 43 percent of voters in the 2020 election. Trump described it in his usual negative tone, calling it “stupid.”

“Now we have this stupid stuff where you can vote 45 days early… I wonder what the hell happens during that 45?” Trump remarked, reiterating his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was rigged against him.

Such contradictions likely create challenges for the Republican National Committee (RNC), which has been actively promoting early voting through its “Protect Your Vote” tour across the country.

Michael Whatley, Chair of the RNC, emphasized the importance of early voting, stating, “The message from President Trump is very clear. It is great if you want to vote early.” He later added, “It is great if you want to vote by mail.”

On the same day, however, Trump was in the news condemning mail-in voting as fraudulent. He told Fox News, “Anytime you have mail-in voting, you’re going to have fraud and some people don’t like me saying it, but I say it.”

While Trump frequently voices baseless claims regarding early voting, other election officials have raised genuine concerns. Earlier in the month, the National Association of Secretaries of State, a bipartisan organization, reached out to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to express their worries about the postal system’s capacity to handle ballots during the upcoming election. They highlighted “exceptionally long delivery times” for ballots and “higher than usual rates” of election mail being marked as undeliverable.

In response, DeJoy, a Trump appointee, assured the public in a recent press conference, “Let me be clear. The Postal Service is ready to deliver the nation’s mail-in ballots.”

He acknowledged the pressure that election officials are under, stating, “We recognize that election officials are under an extreme amount of pressure, and will remain so for at least the next two months.” DeJoy also warned that “ongoing dialogue that continues to question the reliability of the Postal Service for the upcoming elections” could escalate public concern.

As the election approaches, Trump’s inconsistent messaging regarding early voting may complicate the efforts of the RNC, while officials at various levels work to ensure that the voting process runs smoothly.

With the stakes high in the approaching election, the differing opinions and strategies from party leaders underscore the ongoing debates about voting methods and their implications for voter turnout. How this will play out remains to be seen as November approaches.