INDIANAPOLIS— State Senator J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis), Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Elections Committee, responded to a threat from the White House to "get rid of" mail-in ballots before the 2026 election.

"I will always advocate for fair, free, secure and accessible elections," said Ford. "Any restriction on mail-in voting would restrict people from fulfilling a paramount civic responsibility."

Ford emphasized that eligibility for voting by mail in Indiana is already narrow, and that a conversation needs to be had about who truly loses if voting by mail were to be eliminated.

 "We should not be disenfranchising people who have legitimate reasons that keep them from the polls," said Ford. "We are talking about our elderly, our neighbors who are disabled, our poll workers fulfilling their duties during the election and our service members all over the globe."

Ford reiterated that mail-in voting occurs in healthy democracies around the world, with 34 countries offering some form of voting by mail.

Furthermore, in states where universal mail-in voting or permanent absentee voting was adopted, there was an increase in voter participation, especially when compared to states that require excuses for absentee voting.

"When we talk about something as sacred as our elections, these conversations must be rooted in both reality and honesty," said Ford. "Everyone, Republican or Democrat, benefits from mail-in voting, and I will continue to be a staunch advocate for this safe and secure practice for participating in our elections."

Though mail-in voting likely cannot be eliminated with an executive order, Ford noted that individual state legislatures could prohibit the practice, which is why he is sounding the alarm with the looming threat of a special session.

"We have seen how states can respond to pressure from the president," said Ford. "When rhetoric like this starts picking up, we must proactively demand that in the coming weeks our state leaders commit to doing what is best for Hoosiers— not a select few in Washington D.C."