Throughout 2020, President Donald trump has frequently decried voting by mail, just as the 2020 election this November is expected to see an unprecedented amount mail-in votes.
Trump and his allies falsely claimed that there is widespread opportunity for voter fraud, and that other countries have the ability to copy and send American ballots. Now, Trump's postmaster general and top Trump campaign donor—Louis DeJoy—is accused of using his post to undermine the day-to-day operation of the postal service, sowing mistrust in the election's results and potentially suppressing untold numbers of votes.
Trump draws a false distinction between absentee voting and mail-in voting, asserting that absentee voting is permissible because an excuse is provided for not being at the ballot box in person. This does not add extra security to the request or the ballot being mailed, nor is there a different security procedure for ballots without an absence excuse.
Trump, however, advocates voting by mail in certain states, such as Florida, where Republican absentee voters typically outnumber those of Democrats.
Now, some North Carolina residents have received an absentee ballot request form—accompanied by a photo of Trump's face.
Got my mail in absentee ballot request form from @realDonaldTrump that will allow me to mail in my vote if I need to... but I can't remember if this is a good thing or bad thing. Mail in is bad but absentee is good??? 🙄🙄🙄 pic.twitter.com/fbdgiq4hwc
— Chandler Carranza (@ChandlerC226) August 13, 2020
While Trump is railing against vote by mail, his campaign sends out absentee ballot request forms here in NC. (Something he complained about that governments in some states were doing) pic.twitter.com/48TIBRgVog
— tay (@Taylor_Leanne2) August 12, 2020
My buddy in North Carolina, a registered Democrat, just got this in the mail. pic.twitter.com/MY2hnlTDvu
— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) August 14, 2020
The mailer was distributed by the North Carolina Republican party, and features text that reads:
"Are you going to let the Democrats silence you? Act now to stand with President Trump."
Like a similar mailer distributed by Florida's GOP, the graphic includes a tweet from Trump promoting absentee ballot voting, while blurring out the tweet's next sentence excoriating voting by mail.
People were stunned to see the bizarre mailer.
I'm sorry, what?
— Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) August 16, 2020
I'm so tired. https://t.co/46d5WCbjNu
— Saeed Jones (@theferocity) August 17, 2020
Trump desperately asking voters to vote by mail for him while removing their post office boxes. Can't fix combined traitor and stupid. https://t.co/GI9C3fGmn5
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) August 17, 2020
You know why Republicans are so convinced of voter fraud?
Same reason a thief is worried somebody is going to break into his house and steal all his stolen goods. https://t.co/yFPxIc1RZP
— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) August 17, 2020
This man is literally rigging the election right in front of us and nobody is checking for it.... https://t.co/062KhGte00
— Carlos🌐 (@NativeLos) August 17, 2020
In case anyone had any doubt, this mailer confirms that @realDonaldTrump & the @gop consider voting a privilege, not a right.
It just reinforces the need for Congress to pass the #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct and ensure that no one can interfere with this solemn right. https://t.co/De3J7R4NIX
— steve hall (@stevehalltweets) August 17, 2020
Some feel the Republican party waded into legally dubious territory.
Sounds illegal. https://t.co/1WKAMscEFA
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 16, 2020
How is this legal? https://t.co/bdOe6V3Mgy
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) August 16, 2020
How's that legal? Election laws are pretty straightforward on this I think. https://t.co/wetW3t5Om7
— Andrew Zimmern (@andrewzimmern) August 17, 2020
The setbacks at the postal service have led to delays in everything from prescriptions to paychecks. Political leaders are encouraging all Americans to vote as early as possible in the general election.
@kileywrestling/Bluesky
