Former President Donald Trump’s campaign is now pushing for early and mail-in voting, methods he once criticized as fraudulent. With just weeks left before the election, his campaign is actively promoting these options, despite his prior efforts to restrict them. This shift comes in light of the need to expand voting access in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Trump and campaign leaders, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, have encouraged voters in key swing states to vote early or by mail.
While the Trump campaign’s advocacy for expanded access is welcomed, voting rights advocates are concerned about the inconsistency in their approach. In 2020, Trump’s campaign filed lawsuits to block mail-in voting expansions introduced due to the pandemic. Now, the same campaign is promoting mail-in ballots as part of their strategy, especially in hurricane-hit regions like North Carolina.
The North Carolina General Assembly has enacted some of Trump’s proposals, including more flexible early voting hours and the use of temporary voting locations. However, in Georgia, where Hurricane Helene also caused damage, Republicans opposed extending voter registration deadlines, sparking concerns about a selective approach to voting access. Voting rights groups argue that expanded access should be universal, regardless of the cause of voter displacement, whether from a hurricane or a pandemic.
Jim McCurry
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