The US president urged supporters to use mail-in ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 congressional elections, despite years of criticism of the method.
Donald Trump said on Monday that supporters could vote by mail or in person in the Nov. 3 congressional midterm elections. Before traveling to a rally in Nebraska, he told reporters at the White House that he preferred in-person voting but voters could choose.
Over the weekend, the president posted a video urging Republicans to vote early, by mail or on Election Day. The call contrasts with years of statements that mail-in voting is rife with fraud. Trump has repeatedly made false claims linking it to his defeat in the 2020 election.
His administration sought to tighten mail-voting rules ahead of the midterms. In September, the Supreme Court declined to let the US Postal Service enforce the new restrictions. Some Republicans have warned that discouraging mail ballots could lower turnout among rural conservative voters who live far from polling places.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday put Trump’s approval at 32%, matching September’s low. Registered voters favored Democrats over Republicans 44% to 37%. Among independents, 37% backed Democrats and 21% Republicans, while 28% were undecided.