2:34An individual drops an envelope into a receptacle intended for absentee ballots outside Philadelphia’s City Hall on October 27, 2025.Matt Rourke/AP
Your Voice Your VoteABC News
When President Donald Trump stated on social media in August that there should be "no voting by mail" and that Americans should "ONLY UTILIZE PAPER BALLOTS," he seemed to contradict the endeavors of Republican representatives and advocates throughout the nation who have devoted the past several years to urging Republicans to adopt absentee voting.
Trump’s message mirrored what had evolved into almost standard communication among party associates following the 2020 election, when he attempted, without justification, to attribute his defeat that year to the increase in voting by mail caused by the pandemic.
However, since that period, numerous Republicans, including some who had been the most dedicated adversaries of absentee voting, have expressed that they acknowledge the practice is essential for securing victories in elections.
Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who incorporated frequent critiques of absentee voting into his unsuccessful campaign for governor in 2022, conceded to Politico a year later that Republicans "have to embrace mail-in voting without needing an excuse."
A person places an envelope in a ballot return box for mail-in ballots outside of City Hall in Philadelphia, Oct. 27, 2025.Matt Rourke/AP
This autumn, as voters determine whether to retain three Democrats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the state Republican Party has been encouraging voters to request an absentee ballot.
"If there is even a slight chance that you might miss the 2025 Election, sign up for a mail-in ballot today! It’s fast and simple!" the state party’s X account posted recently.
Pennsylvania election data indicates that in the 2024 presidential election, Republicans accounted for 34% of the total votes cast by mail, an increase from 23% in the 2020 contest.
Jim Worthington, a business proprietor and Republican fundraiser in eastern Pennsylvania, has urged Republican candidates in the state to establish a substantial vote-by-mail operation, cautioning them that failure to do so could result in them losing an election.
Worthington mentioned to ABC News that when Dave McCormick sought his backing during his Senate campaign in 2024, Worthington conveyed that he "would offer support if he devised a comprehensive, financed vote-by-mail program, to which he agreed."
Worthington asserted that the subsequent effort, which he claimed amassed $13 million to bolster vote-by-mail, was "one of the justifications for his triumph, and it undoubtedly aided [Trump]."
Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One en route to Washington, October 30, 2025.Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Republicans in other states holding off-year races this fall have also been advocating for vote-by-mail.
Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican contender for New Jersey governor, boasted in an interview with Fox News, "We’ve had a higher number of Republicans returning vote-by-mail ballots than ever before."
The California Republican Party has communicated to voters on X, "Don’t wait until the November 4th deadline, MAIL IN YOUR NO ON PROP 50 BALLOT TODAY," referring to the ballot initiative proposed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that aims to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
Certain experts, conversely, warned that Trump’s cautions against mail-in voting could impede the endeavors of party affiliates to promote the practice.
"The Republicans face a dual challenge. First, the party’s support base is only mobilized when Trump appears on the ballot. And second, he's persistently advising people to avoid using mail-in ballots," Philadelphia-based public affairs executive Larry Ceisler stated to ABC News. "Therefore, I remain uncertain as to how they intend to address that issue."
The White House provided no response to ABC News' request for comment.
"No voting by mail or 'Early' Voting, Yes to Voter ID!" Trump declared last week in a post on social media.
Worthington indicated that the statements made by Republicans in Pennsylvania are beneficial, yet constrained in their impact. Republicans also need to persuade voters who are less inclined to participate to cast their ballots by mail, he noted.
"They necessitate individuals visiting their residences, approaching them, and following up, requiring at least three or four visits, at a minimum, in which you must consistently revisit them," he shared with ABC News.
He cautioned that initiatives to elevate mail voting by Republicans for next year’s midterm elections should be initiated promptly.
"You simply cannot launch a vote by mail program next spring and anticipate making a significant enough impression to elevate those figures to the necessary levels," Worthington remarked.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
