The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 20, 2026
WASHINGTON — President Trump again recently condemned mail-in voting, used by an estimated 30% of Americans in the 2024 election, as “inherently corrupt.” Yet the president voted by mail August 13th in Florida’s state primary, the fifth time since 2017 he’s used mail-in voting.
Trump has disparaged mail-in ballots, particularly universal mail-in ballots, to cast doubt on the 2020 election results and perpetuate conspiracy theories among his followers. To be clear, election officials and the courts found no evidence of widespread mail-in or other voter fraud anywhere in the United States.
In addition to the August 18th Florida primary, Newsweek reports the president voted by mail in the March 2026 Florida special election, the 2020 Florida primary, in the 2018 New York state midterm, and the 2017 New York City mayoral election.
The president told a Memphis roundtable on crime and public safety in March, “I call it mail-in cheating, and we’ve got to do something about it all,” UNQUOTE. That “something” includes his March executive order on elections and the SAVE America Act, both containing provisions severely restricting mail-in voting. Those provisions would end universal mail-in voting in eight states, and disenfranchise far more eligible voters than prevent illegal voters.
We’ve linked to more reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
The White House – PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF AMERICAN ELECTIONS
U.S. Congress – SAVE America Act
The Hill – Trump voted by mail in Florida primary election: Report
Washington Post – (March 2026) Trump uses mail-in ballot as he asks lawmakers to limit the practice
National Vote at Home Institute – Why Does Trump Hate Vote-By-Mail?
CNN – Fact check: The lies Trump is using to sell his latest attack on mail-in voting
Newsweek – List of Times Trump Voted by Mail After Calling It ‘Inherently Corrupt’
Brennan Center for Justice – Using Unproven Fraud Claims to Make Voting by Mail Harder
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Midterm Madness Week: One-Third of Americans Used Mail-In Voting in 2024. So Why is the Trump Administration Trying to End It?
American Democracy Minute – (2024) A Majority of Americans Like Voting by Mail – Including Many Florida Republicans. Making it Harder May Keep Them From Voting, Too.
Groups Taking Action:
National Vote from Home Institute, AARP, Veterans for All Voters, American Association of People with Disabilities
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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