Guest Opinion | Suzanne York: Cuts to Election Funding and Attacks on Mail-In Voting Put Pasadena Voters at Risk

Donald Trump’s relentless push to eliminate mail-in voting is not only reckless—it is dangerous. Here in Pasadena—as across the nation—mail-in voting has long been a lifeline for seniors, people with disabilities, students, and working families who cannot always make it to the polls on Election Day. Removing that option would disenfranchise thousands of our neighbors and many millions more nationwide.

But Trump’s war on voting rights doesn’t end there. His administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) budget request seeks to severely cut funding for Election Security Grants, which support state and local election infrastructure improvements—a vital tool to help safeguard our democracy. Simultaneously, his proposal slashes funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, targeting election-related cybersecurity programs that defend against interference and disinformation. These actions threaten critical defenses against tampering, cyberattacks, and public mistrust.

Elections are meant to be how the people hold leaders accountable. Without reliable funding and robust security, that mechanism breaks down. Across the country, election officials are still relying on outdated voting machines—some decades old—that are increasingly vulnerable to breakdowns, errors, and cyber threats. Meanwhile, election workers are fighting a growing wave of disinformation, now amplified by sophisticated artificial intelligence tools designed to confuse and mislead.

Here in Pasadena, our community thrives on civic engagement. We show up to vote, volunteer at polling places, and work hard to make democracy vibrant. But no matter how dedicated our local election workers are, they cannot run fair and secure elections without critical support. Ballots must be printed. Machines must be maintained or replaced. Polling places must be staffed. Security systems must be resilient. When the federal government shrinks these resources, it fails to invest in democracy itself.

Meanwhile, restrictive voting laws being enacted in various states are making it harder for many Americans—especially communities of color, students, and young voters—to cast their ballots. When federal support erodes, local governments must make up the difference. Rural and low-income communities increasingly bear the brunt, entrenching inequality in access to the ballot box. Pasadena—and all of California—cannot flourish in a nation where the right to vote is determined by one’s ZIP code or tax base.

This is not merely about dollars and cents—it’s about whether every American has an equal voice in shaping our shared future. Removing mail-in voting and gutting election funding is not about efficiency; it is a calculated weakening of public trust and democratic participation.

And consider this: if Donald Trump were truly committed to saving taxpayer money, he would not squander millions deploying the National Guard in politically charged scenarios. Nor would he continue to favor tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy—including those, like his own family, who have profited handsomely during his presidency. His rhetoric about “fiscal responsibility” is a smokescreen; the real goal is power, not prudence.

We must act on these warnings. We understand that democracy thrives when more people have a voice, not fewer. We know that accessible options like vote-by-mail help more people participate and reinforce legitimacy. And we see that starving election systems of funding while undermining their credibility is a recipe for democratic decay.

The truth is simple: elections cost money to sustain—just like roads need paving or schools need teachers. Pretending otherwise sets our democracy up for failure. Components like cybersecurity, accurate machinery, public confidence, and equitable access rely on adequate funding.

Now is the moment for a choice. We can accept the path of disinvestment, suppression, and disenfranchisement—or we can demand the investment our democracy needs. Trump’s threatening rhetoric and Congress’s stealthy defunding are two sides of the same strategy: making voting harder and weakening faith in elections.

We cannot let this succeed. Our message to members of Congress must be unwavering: restore and protect election funding, defend mail-in voting, and ensure democracy works for everyone—here in Pasadena and across America. Anything less is a betrayal of the American people.

Suzanne York is a retired PUSD teacher.