President Trump's executive order for states to buy costly new voting machines is a direct threat to our democracy. It’s an unworkable, unnecessary, and blatantly political move that risks turning the 2026 elections into chaos.

This order would force states to either hand-count ballots or spend billions on voting machines that don’t even exist yet. Election officials, voting experts, and bipartisan leaders across the country are sounding the alarm: this plan is impossible to implement, prohibitively expensive, and invites mass confusion.

It’s a logistical nightmare that could disenfranchise millions and destroy public confidence in our elections.

States can't just snap their fingers and replace entire voting systems. Procurement takes years. Training takes time. And trust takes care — not careless orders from Washington. Trump’s demand that voting machines be recertified under new, undefined standards is not only unrealistic, it’s designed to destabilize.

Even worse, this order bypasses the Constitution. States run elections. Not the federal government.

Lawsuits are already challenging this order in court, but the public must speak out now. We can't sit back while the foundation of our democracy is chipped away by executive fiat.

We call on Congress, state leaders, election officials, and the public to reject this executive order and defend the integrity of our elections. This isn't about party. It’s about protecting every American’s voice — and vote.

Stand with us. Demand that this dangerous election overhaul be stopped immediately.

Photo: Joel Angel Juarez/For The Washington Post