Why Trump’s battle against mail-in ballots could hurt GOP candidates

Election Strategy & Republican Party Dynamics - Trump's stance against mail-in voting contradicts Republican efforts in 2024 to encourage their voters to use this method [2] - Republican state officials and candidates are concerned that Trump's rhetoric against mail-in voting could negatively impact Republican voter turnout [2][3] - Historically, Republicans have successfully utilized absentee voting programs [6] - Trump's actions are perceived by some as potentially undermining Republican chances in elections [9][10] Mail-in Voting & Accessibility - Some states, like Washington, conduct elections entirely by mail, finding it more efficient [4] - Eliminating mail-in voting could disproportionately affect rural voters, who often lean Republican [4][5] - 18 states allow no-excuse absentee voting, which is essentially mail-in voting [7] External Influence & Election Integrity - Concerns are raised about potential Russian influence on Trump's views regarding mail-in voting [5][6] - There is speculation that Trump's stance on mail-in voting may be part of a larger strategy to challenge election results [11] Financial Implications - Pennsylvania spent $16 million leading up to the last election promoting mail-in voting [9]