Trump Officials Considered Banning Voting Machines Over Fraud Claims
Officials in the administration of US President Donald Trump reportedly examined a proposal that could have restricted or blocked the use of electronic voting machines across parts of the United States, based on disputed claims of election fraud.
According to people familiar with the discussions, the plan explored whether technology used by Dominion Voting Systems could be classified as a national security concern under the authority of the US Commerce Department. Such a move would have allowed federal restrictions on equipment widely deployed in state-managed elections.
The idea was linked to White House adviser Kurt Olsen, who has previously supported allegations that the 2020 presidential election was compromised claims that have been rejected in court rulings and official investigations.
Officials also reportedly debated replacing electronic voting systems with hand-counted paper ballots nationwide, a proposal Trump has repeatedly endorsed. Election specialists, however, argue that existing systems which combine electronic counting with paper audit trails remain more secure and allow for verification through audits and recounts.
Sources said Commerce Department officials briefly assessed whether there were legal grounds to impose restrictions on Dominion equipment, but the effort did not advance after internal reviews failed to produce evidence that the systems posed any security threat.
The discussions were also described as part of wider internal considerations about increasing federal oversight of election processes, which are traditionally controlled by individual US states.
Individuals linked to the conversations reportedly included aides connected to intelligence official Tulsi Gabbard, as well as advisers within the White House Domestic Policy Council.
The Commerce Department, led by Howard Lutnick, denied involvement in any election-related planning, while the White House also rejected the report, calling it misleading and based on selective leaks.
The report was originally published by Reuters. It noted that no formal action was taken and that most US voting jurisdictions already maintain paper records that allow post-election audits.
Election security experts warned that replacing electronic systems entirely with manual counting could increase human error and slow down election results, while supporters of reform argue it could improve transparency and public trust.
Dominion Voting Systems has faced repeated false claims about its role in the 2020 election, all of which have been dismissed in multiple investigations and legal proceedings.
Despite the controversy, its systems continue to be widely used across the United States ahead of upcoming elections.
