What's going on with vote-by-mail?
Summary
NPR hosts Miles Parks, Tamara Keith, and Hanzi Loeng discuss President Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterms. They analyze the order’s legal challenges, practical hurdles for the USPS, and the lack of evidence for non-citizen voting fraud. The episode clarifies that mail-in voting remains viable for now, though chaos looms if courts allow the new, complex procedures to take effect.
Topics discussed
Intro: Planet Money Summer School and Trump's mail-in vote restrictions
Details of Trump's executive order on USPS and mail-in ballots
Trump's rationale: Claims of mail-in voting fraud
Legal challenges: Presidential authority and USPS role
Current impact on voters and practical hurdles for states
USPS capabilities and missing technical infrastructure
Ad breaks: Jerry, Kachava, and Fresh Air promo
Listener Q&A: The Purcell Principle and last-minute changes
Risks of chaos for states relying on mail-in voting
Non-citizen voting myths and potential impact on Republicans
Conclusion: Ongoing legal battles and final thoughts
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