Trump Pushes Early Voting but Calls It ‘Stupid’

At a rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania, on Monday, former President Donald Trump delivered a mixed message to his supporters, urging them to vote early while simultaneously disparaging the early voting process. In a confusing turn of events, Trump’s remarks reflected both a call for his base to utilize the very system he criticized, along with his lingering grievances over the 2020 presidential election, which he continues to claim was tainted by widespread fraud, despite no substantial evidence supporting these allegations.

Trump’s speech began with a clear directive to his followers: “Go out, make a plan to vote early, vote absentee or vote in-person on election day,” he said. He emphasized the importance of early voting, noting that Pennsylvania—a key battleground state—was opening its early voting window within the next two weeks. Trump’s focus on Pennsylvania is not surprising, as the state played a pivotal role in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, and is expected to be a major battleground in the 2024 presidential race.

But moments after urging his supporters to vote early, Trump sharply criticized the practice. He referred to early voting as “stupid stuff,” and expressed frustration about the length of time voters have to cast their ballots before Election Day. “Now we have this stupid stuff where you can vote 45 days early,” Trump said, adding, “I wonder what the hell happens during those 45 days.” This criticism marks a stark contrast to his earlier encouragement for supporters to participate in early voting, reflecting the conflicting messaging that has become a hallmark of his rhetoric. It also highlights Trump’s ongoing battle with the election processes that he claims cost him the presidency in 2020. Throughout the rally, Trump continued to push baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in Pennsylvania and across the country during the last election, although numerous audits and court cases have found no evidence to support these assertions.

In his rally speech, Trump revisited his frequent assertions about election fraud, focusing particularly on Pennsylvania. “What happened the last time was disgraceful, including right here… But we’re not going to let it happen again,” he said. Trump’s references to the 2020 election remain a central theme in his campaign rhetoric as he seeks the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. Despite these claims, investigations into the 2020 election results have consistently shown no evidence of significant voter fraud that would have altered the outcome. Nevertheless, Trump’s focus on Pennsylvania underscores how critical the state will be in the next election. “If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing,” Trump declared to the crowd. His statement echoes the broader sentiment within the Republican party that winning key swing states like Pennsylvania could determine the overall result of the 2024 presidential race.

Trump’s criticism of early voting is at odds with the Republican Party’s recent efforts to encourage their supporters to embrace early and absentee voting. Over the past several months, prominent Republican lawmakers and party leaders have urged voters to take advantage of early voting to level the playing field with Democrats, who have historically been more likely to vote early or by mail. For instance, House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) have both publicly encouraged early voting in their districts, framing it as an important tool to ensure Republican success in tight races. Additionally, the GOP has launched an initiative called “Swamp the Vote,” aimed at maximizing early and absentee turnout among Republican voters before the official Election Day on November 5, 2024.

Trump’s comments, however, run counter to this strategy. By criticizing early voting and casting doubt on its integrity, he risks discouraging his own supporters from using a method of voting that could help the GOP gain a competitive edge. The contradictory message is likely to cause confusion among voters who are unsure whether to heed his call to vote early or to align with his disdain for the process.

Despite Trump’s disparagement of early voting, some of his most prominent political allies have publicly supported it. During a rally in North Carolina, Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s 2024 running mate, reiterated the importance of using all available voting methods. “I am a firm believer that we ought to have Election Day in this country and not election season,” Vance said, voicing a preference for a single-day election. However, he also stressed the importance of using early voting as a means to secure Republican victories. “We have to take advantage of all pathways, including early voting, vote by mail, and voting on Election Day,” Vance added, signaling a more pragmatic approach to the upcoming election.

The push from Trump’s allies to embrace early voting reflects the Republican Party’s broader recognition that early voting can no longer be dismissed or overlooked. In recent elections, Democrats have often capitalized on early voting, gaining a significant lead before Election Day. The GOP now seeks to close that gap by encouraging its own base to cast ballots early, whether through absentee voting or in-person early voting.

Trump’s renewed focus on Pennsylvania comes as polling data reveals a tight race in the state. According to FiveThirtyEight’s weighted average of polls, Vice President Kamala Harris holds a narrow 1.5-point lead over Trump in Pennsylvania. This slim margin underscores the importance of every vote in the state and adds to the pressure on both campaigns to secure early voting support. In 2020, Pennsylvania was one of the most fiercely contested states, with Biden ultimately winning by a narrow margin. With its large number of electoral votes and history as a swing state, Pennsylvania is expected to play a similarly decisive role in 2024. This is why both Trump and his allies are placing such an emphasis on early voter turnout in the state, even as Trump continues to voice skepticism about the process.

Trump’s conflicting remarks about early voting during his Pennsylvania rally reveal the challenge he faces as he tries to balance his skepticism of the election process with the practical realities of modern campaigning. While his Republican allies push for robust early voting participation, Trump’s public criticism of the practice could hinder the GOP’s efforts to maximize voter turnout ahead of the 2024 election. As the election season unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Trump’s base will follow his encouragement to vote early, or be swayed by his persistent doubts about the integrity of the process.