Trump requests mail-in ballot for Florida congressional primary

President Trump and first lady Melania Trump have both requested mail-in ballots for the upcoming Florida  primaries despite the president’s frequent criticism of mail-in ballot systems in the U.S., USA Today reported.

The president, who changed his permanent residence from New York to Florida during his first term in office, is casting a ballot to be counted Aug. 18 in the state’s congressional primary elections. 

A request from the first couple was posted online by Palm Beach County election officials on Wednesday. A ballot will be picked up and delivered to the president’s Florida residence of Mar-a-Lago before it will travel to Washington, D.C., for their votes.

It will then be mailed to Florida officials ahead of the state’s primary election Tuesday.

White House officials did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill.

Trump has frequently claimed that the practice of voting by mail will lead to voter fraud. However, there is scant evidence to suggest that this is the case. 

“With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history,” he tweeted in late July.

“It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???” he added at the time.

Democrats have called for an expansion of mail-in voting nationwide amid the COVID-19 pandemic after most state and federal health guidelines have warned against gathering in crowded, indoor spaces. 

The president however recently stated that he believes Florida’s voting system to be secure, and encouraged any Florida voters who were eligible to request mail-in ballots.

“Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True. Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail!” he tweeted in early August.

Whether you call it Vote by Mail or Absentee Voting, in Florida the election system is Safe and Secure, Tried and True. Florida’s Voting system has been cleaned up (we defeated Democrats attempts at change), so in Florida I encourage all to request a Ballot & Vote by Mail! #MAGA

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2020