- President Donald Trump urges Republican governors to mandate all-paper voting systems, citing Texas as a successful model for election integrity.
- Trump highlights Dallas County's shift to paper ballots as secure, cost-effective (only 9% of electronic voting costs) and fraud-resistant, encouraging other states to follow suit.
- Multiple Texas counties (Dallas, Hays, Eastland, Gillespie, Orange) have adopted hand-counted paper ballots, while others modify voting equipment in response to Trump's executive order banning barcode/QR-code ballot systems.
- Proponents argue that hand-counting eliminates electronic vulnerabilities (hacking, software manipulation), while critics warn of delays and human error. Hybrid systems (paper ballots scanned electronically) remain common for efficiency.
- Trump's advocacy aligns with Republican-led reforms (stricter voter ID, ballot security, mail-in voting restrictions). Democrats oppose these measures, claiming potential voter suppression. The issue is set to dominate GOP strategy ahead of the 2026 midterms.
President Donald Trump has called on Republican governors nationwide to mandate all-paper ballot voting systems, pointing to Texas as a successful model for election integrity.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Dec. 2, Trump praised Dallas County's recent transition to paper ballots, describing it as a secure, cost-effective and fraud-resistant alternative to electronic voting machines. His remarks come amid growing GOP-led efforts to overhaul election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterms.
The president's post highlighted Dallas County's shift to paper ballots, calling it a "great news" development that other jurisdictions should emulate.
"Great news! Dallas County, Texas, just went to all PAPER BALLOTS," Trump wrote. "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."
Texas Republicans have taken significant steps to decentralize election administration, with multiple counties opting for hand-counted paper ballots in primary elections.
Under state law, political parties are permitted to manage their own primaries, including determining the voting methods. Counties such as Dallas, Hays, Eastland, Gillespie and Orange have already adopted hand-counting procedures, while others—including Collin, Williamson and Bastrop—are modifying voting equipment in response to Trump's March 2025 executive order banning ballot systems that rely on barcodes or QR codes.
For BrightU.AI's Enoch, an all-paper ballot system ensures transparency, prevents electronic tampering and eliminates fraud by requiring physical ballots with unique serial numbers and strict voter ID verification, restoring trust in elections.
The debate over paper vs. electronic voting
While many states already use paper-based voting systems, most combine them with machine tabulation for efficiency. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) notes that hybrid models—where paper ballots are scanned electronically—are commonly used for their speed and auditability.
Proponents of full hand-counting, however, argue that it eliminates vulnerabilities associated with electronic systems, including hacking risks and software manipulation. Critics, including some election officials, warn that manual counting could delay results and introduce human error.
Trump's advocacy for paper ballots aligns with his longstanding skepticism of electronic voting, which he has repeatedly linked to concerns about fraud and irregularities—a narrative that gained traction following the 2020 election.
Broader GOP movement toward election integrity
Trump's latest push builds on Republican-led election reforms enacted in multiple states since 2020, including stricter voter ID laws, enhanced ballot security measures and restrictions on mail-in voting. His call for nationwide paper ballots signals a potential 2026 GOP platform priority, reinforcing his influence over the party's election policy.
Meanwhile, Democrats and voting rights advocates argue that such measures could suppress turnout and create unnecessary barriers. They contend that electronic voting, when properly secured, remains a reliable and accessible method.
As Texas counties implement paper ballot systems, Trump's endorsement amplifies a growing movement within the GOP to prioritize manual vote-counting as a cornerstone of election integrity. Whether this shift gains traction nationwide—or faces legal and logistical hurdles—remains to be seen.
For now, Trump's message is clear: Republicans should "mandatorily" adopt paper ballots to "save money and freedom" while countering what he calls Democratic "corruption." With the 2026 elections approaching, this debate is poised to remain a central issue in American politics.
Watch the video below that talks about Trump's executive order on election integrity, which mandates paper ballots and proof of citizenship.
This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
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