The U.S. Constitution gives election lawmaking authority solely to states and Congress, granting no such power to the president.

Under the States and Elections Clause of the Constitution, state legislatures establish the times, places and manner of elections. A universal ban on mail ballots would require Congressional approval to become law.

On Aug. 18, President Trump announced his intention to draft an executive order banning mail-in voting nationally. Colorado is one of eight states and Washington, D.C., with primarily vote-by-mail elections, along with California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington.

Colorado passed the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act in 2013, requiring ballots to be mailed to all registered voters each election. In the 2024 General Electi

See Full Page