Trump’s Mail Voting Order May Backfire, Nevada Official Warns

Nevada Official Slams Trump’s Mail-In Voting Order

Nevada’s Secretary of State, Cisco Aguilar, has strongly criticized a recent executive order from former President Donald Trump concerning mail-in voting. Aguilar, who also chairs the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State, argues that the order is unconstitutional and could harm voters, including Trump’s own supporters. The order attempts to set new rules for mail-in voting, but officials like Aguilar believe it oversteps federal authority and creates confusion.

States, Not the President, Control Elections

Aguilar emphasized that the U.S. Constitution clearly assigns the authority to administer elections to individual states, not the President. “States are the ones who administer elections, not a single individual sitting in the White House,” he stated. This fundamental principle is at the heart of the challenge to Trump’s executive order.

Order Creates Chaos and Confusion for Voters

The primary concern raised by Secretary Aguilar is the chaos and confusion the executive order would sow among voters. He explained that the order could lead to different rules for primary elections versus general elections. “That’s like a playoff team playing in the playoffs under one set of rules, and then for the Super Bowl or the World Series, they’re playing another new set of rules,” Aguilar said. He believes voters need consistency and confidence in the electoral process, which this order undermines.

Concerns Over Postal Service and Voter Rolls

The executive order touches on two key areas: the responsibilities of the U.S. Postal Service and national voter roll systems. Nevada, like many states, works with the Postal Service to ensure secure mail-in voting. Every ballot in Nevada has a unique identifier linked to a specific voter, a security measure that Trump’s order seemingly overlooks. Furthermore, the order proposes using a national voter roll system that Aguilar says has a history of errors. This system has reportedly produced false positives, wrongly preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots, which Aguilar called a violation of fundamental rights.

Unfunded Mandate Threatens Local Budgets

Aguilar also highlighted that the executive order represents an unfunded mandate for Nevada’s counties. The state has 17 counties, with 15 being rural communities operating on tight budgets. Forcing these local governments to implement new, potentially costly voting procedures based on what Aguilar calls a “delusional idea” that the 2020 election was stolen is unfair to taxpayers. He pointed out that mail-in ballots are a popular voting method even among Republicans in Nevada, with some of the reddest counties embracing them at high rates.

Legal Challenge Underway

To address these concerns, Nevada has filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order. The legal process aims to clarify how the order would impact local election officials and their operations. The timing of court decisions is uncertain, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious issue. Aguilar stressed the need for an adult in the room making sure the system works for every eligible voter, a role he feels Trump’s order fails to fulfill.

Potential Backfire on Supporters

A striking point made by Secretary Aguilar is that Trump’s order might end up silencing his own supporters. Given that mail-in voting is widely used and accepted, particularly in conservative areas of Nevada, attempts to alter or complicate this method could alienate the very voters Trump seeks to mobilize. The pushback from state officials like Aguilar signals a significant legal and political battle ahead over the future of mail-in voting procedures.

What’s Next?

The legal challenges to Trump’s executive order will be closely watched. Court rulings will determine the fate of the new voting rules and could set precedents for federal and state authority in election administration. Meanwhile, election officials will continue working to ensure secure and accessible voting for all eligible citizens, navigating the complexities introduced by such executive actions.

Source: ‘Silencing his own supporters!’: Nevada official says Trump’s mail-in voting order may backfire (YouTube)