Vermont Gov. Phil Scott Defends Mail-In Ballots, Rejects Trump's Call To Nationalize Elections

Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) on Friday publicly defended mail-in voting and the authority of states to run their own elections, pushing back against President Donald Trump's proposals to tighten mail voting rules and to nationalize election administration.

Speaking at a National Governors Association meeting alongside North Carolina Governor Josh Stein (D), Scott said mail-in ballots are widely used and accepted in Vermont — including among Republicans — and that state-run systems are best positioned to serve voters.

'We're closer to our people and we know what's right and what's wrong, and we can control the elections,' Scott told NBC News' Kristen Welker.

Asked about Trump's suggestion that elections should be nationalized, Scott invoked the 10th Amendment and argued that election administration is primarily a state responsibility. He said: 'The 10th Amendment is clear on the role of the states in terms of elections. So I think that we should follow that and we're closer to the people.'

Scott added that he hoped most Democrats would agree that running elections belongs to the states, not the federal government. 'We were here before the federal government was, the states were, and so we formed the government. Now they're getting bloated, and we need to protect our rights,' he said, framing his stance as both constitutional and practical.

Why It Matters

Scott's comments underscore divisions within the Republican Party over mail-in voting and federal involvement in election rules. His defense of state-run voting systems highlights a pragmatic approach that emphasizes voter access and local control, drawing a clear contrast with proposals to centralize election policy at the federal level.