In a recent development, President Donald Trump has urged Republican governors to adopt the practice of using only paper ballots in elections, a move that has been gaining traction in several Texas counties.
Trump expressed his support for this change on his Truth Social page, stating, "Great news! Dallas County, Texas, just went to all PAPER BALLOTS. Many others are following suit! More accurate, totally secure with watermark paper, FASTER, and only 9% of the cost. All Republican Governors should mandatorily do this. Save Money and Freedom. Lead the Democrats out of their corrupt ways! President DJT."
This call to action comes as Republicans across Texas are advocating for changes in voting procedures to necessitate the hand-counting of ballots in the upcoming March primary elections. In Texas, party officials have the authority to dictate primary voting procedures. While both Republican and Democratic parties have traditionally relied on county election officials to oversee elections, GOP leaders in several counties are now taking steps to conduct their own precinct-level elections and hand-count ballots on Election Day.
This shift towards hand-counting has already been approved by Republicans in Dallas, Hays, Eastland, and Gillespie counties. A similar plan was endorsed by Orange County Republicans earlier this summer. As reported by The Texas Tribune, election officials in Collin, Williamson, and Bastrop counties have also indicated their intention to modify their voting procedures and equipment in response to a Trump executive order issued in March. This order aimed to largely prohibit the use of voting equipment that employs barcodes or QR codes on paper ballots to expedite vote counting.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, many states require or effectively utilize a paper ballot for every voter. These ballots, which are typically hand-marked or printed by a ballot-marking device for accessibility, are then tabulated by optical scanners. This process makes them paper-ballot based, but not "paper-only" counting.
This push for paper ballots is not the only election reform Trump has advocated for. He has previously called for a Voter ID requirement for every vote and pledged to end mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterms. These calls for reform reflect a broader conservative perspective that values traditional methods, individual freedom, and limited government intervention.
The move towards paper ballots and hand-counting in Texas represents a significant shift in election procedures. It underscores the ongoing debate over election security and integrity, a topic that has been at the forefront of political discourse in recent years.
As this trend continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how other states and their Republican leaders respond to Trump's call to action. The potential impact of these changes on future elections remains to be seen.
Login