President Trump on Monday directed the Justice Department to open an investigation into mail-in ballots in Maryland, seizing on a state election board disclosure that some voters received incorrect ballots for the upcoming primary. The move reignites his long-standing attacks on mail voting, despite no evidence of systemic fraud.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Maryland had sent out 500,000 “Illegal Mail In Ballots” and that they “got caught.” He added that replacement ballots are being issued, but “nobody knows what’s happening with the first 500,000.” The president also asserted that many of the ballots went to Democrats, making it impossible for Republicans to compete. “I’m ordering an immediate investigation into this matter,” he wrote.
Maryland election officials moved quickly to correct the record. The State Board of Elections disclosed Friday that a vendor error caused some voters to receive the wrong ballot for the June gubernatorial primary. Officials said that while only a small number of voters may have been affected, all who received a ballot before May 14 will get a replacement. Voters who requested print-at-home ballots were not impacted.
Jared DeMarinis, the state administrator of elections, pushed back directly on Trump’s characterization. “First I want to assure the voters & the public that NO Fake Mail-in ballots were distributed,” he wrote on X. “The wording in President Trump’s post regarding Maryland’s election seeks to mislead, sow distrust and create misinformation.” The board also stressed that there is “no risk of duplicate voting” because safeguards ensure only replacement ballots are counted.
The printing vendor, Taylor Print & Visual Impressions, Inc., described the error as an isolated incident and said it has already begun working with election officials to implement corrective actions. In a statement, the company said, “At TPVI, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of security, precision, and operational integrity.”
Trump specifically blamed Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat, calling him “corrupt” and accusing him of intentionally trying to undermine Republican voters. “He allowed this to happen in order to make sure that Democrats win,” Trump wrote. Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for Moore’s office, dismissed the claims as “false and irresponsible,” urging Marylanders to rely on the State Board of Elections for accurate information rather than “social media misinformation designed to undermine confidence in our elections.”
The president’s push for a DOJ probe comes amid a broader crackdown on mail-in voting during his second term. In March, he signed an executive order directing the Homeland Security Secretary to collaborate with the Social Security Administration to compile a list of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote, and barring the U.S. Postal Service from sending ballots to those not on the list. The order also requires ballots to be enclosed in barcoded envelopes for tracking. Democrats have sued to block the order, and dozens of Senate Democrats urged USPS employees not to comply, arguing the directives infringe on states’ constitutional role in federal elections.
This is not the first time Trump has alleged widespread fraud without proof. He continues to claim the 2020 election was stolen, a narrative that has fueled ongoing efforts to restrict mail voting. The Maryland incident, though limited in scope, provides fresh ammunition for those pushing for tighter voting rules. Meanwhile, the administration faces headwinds on other fronts, with tariffs and geopolitical tensions keeping inflation elevated.
As the DOJ investigation begins, the central question remains whether any actual fraud occurred—or whether the president’s order is another salvo in his campaign to delegitimize mail voting. For now, Maryland election officials say the system worked: an error was caught, and replacement ballots are on the way.
