Date: 20 August 2025
By Citizen of Europe staff
Donald Trump has vowed to end mail-in voting across the United States. “We’re going to have real elections again,” he declared this week. But in Washington State, where nearly all ballots are cast by mail, Democratic officials say he has no such authority.
The clash is more than local. It cuts to the heart of democracy: who gets to vote, how secure those votes are, and whether access to the ballot is expanded or restricted. The answer won’t only shape America. It will echo across Europe, where authoritarian leaders have also chipped away at voting rights under the guise of ‘security.’
The U.S. Battle
In Washington State, mail voting is a democratic habit — 98% of ballots in 2024 were cast by post. Local officials argue it increases turnout without compromising security. Multiple audits have shown fraud rates near zero. Yet Trump’s campaign insists that mailed ballots are inherently suspect, citing false claims of 2020 fraud.
“This is federal overreach dressed up as reform,” said one Democratic legislator. “Our constitution gives states the right to run their own elections. Trump can’t sign away mail voting by decree.”
Why Europe Should Care
Across Europe, the same script is being rehearsed. Hungary restricted access to voting for citizens abroad. Poland experimented with mail-ballot hurdles. Even in Germany, populist voices have questioned absentee ballots. The language is familiar: raise doubt, call for ‘integrity,’ then narrow the franchise.
Europe often points fingers at Washington when democratic backsliding occurs. But the American case may soon serve as precedent. If the U.S. president can weaken mail voting, why not Europe’s would-be strongmen?
Sidebar: Spokane’s Wind Power Debate
On the same day as the mail-ballot fight, Spokane County debated expanding wind power zoning. To outsiders, zoning rules sound parochial. But at stake is whether local governments accelerate or stall the energy transition.
Democracy is not only about voting rights but also about who sets the rules for climate, land, and community futures. Restrict ballots, and decisions like these become less representative.
The Bigger Picture
Mail voting is not an American quirk. It is a test case for whether modern democracies can make voting easier rather than harder. Authoritarians thrive by limiting the electorate; democracies thrive by expanding it.
In 2025, the question is not whether we can trust citizens to vote. It is whether leaders can trust democracy enough to let them.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on confirmed reporting from Spokane Public Radio (Aug 2025) and cross-checked with state and federal election law. It does not constitute legal advice.
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