Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign team has recently launched a new initiative called Swamp the Vote USA, which aims to encourage citizens to vote using methods other than showing up at the polls on Election Day. This initiative, created by Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee’s grassroots program, Trump Force 47, seeks to promote and educate voters about absentee and mail-in voting.
Trump’s campaign emphasized the importance of outnumbering Democrats through increased participation in absentee and mail-in voting, stating that by “swamping” them with votes, cheating could be prevented. The initiative’s main goal is to mobilize supporters to register and vote in any way possible. It aims to provide voters with information about various voting options in their states, and to encourage early voting to minimize any inconvenience or unexpected obstacles on Election Day.
HE IS SO CROOKED AND HE LIKES TO CHEAT. GRIFTER. Read "Trump does 180 on mail-in voting with plans to ‘swamp’ the vote' on SmartNews: https://t.co/Z3kytVllGB
— Geo San (@crushy8) June 5, 2024
In recent elections, Democrats have shown a higher preference for mail-in ballots than Republicans. A February Pew survey revealed that a large majority of Democrats support no-excuse mail-in voting, in contrast to a significantly smaller percentage of Republicans. This decline in Republican support for mail-in voting is likely linked to Trump’s past rhetoric on the subject, as he had previously expressed skepticism about the integrity of mail-in ballots, particularly in the 2020 election, where he alleged fraud and Democratic manipulation.
Despite Trump’s past statements against early and mail-in voting, the Swamp the Vote initiative represents a shift in strategy. The campaign seems to acknowledge the necessity of utilizing various voting methods to secure victory in the upcoming election. While Trump had previously criticized early voting and mail-in voting, he now appears to be recognizing their significance by encouraging voters to take advantage of these options.
The initiative’s launch comes at a time when early and mail-in voting have gained traction, especially during the peak of the pandemic in 2020, when a majority of votes were cast early or by mail-in ballots. Trump’s campaign team’s pivot towards promoting these voting methods signifies a significant change in their approach, reflecting a desire to adapt to the evolving voting landscape and to ensure maximum turnout and participation from their supporters.
