President Trump visited Wilmington in the NC on Wednesday and asked supporters to try to vote in person after sending a mail-in ballot – which is illegal and destructive.

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Melissa Sue Gerritz / Getty Images

President Trump visited Wilmington in the NC on Wednesday and asked supporters to try to vote in person after sending a mail-in ballot – which is illegal and destructive.

Melissa Sue Gerritz / Getty Images

Updated to 3:08 pm ET

President Trump, who has consistently criticized mail-in voting, went a step further by attacking the move on Wednesday, telling supporters in North Carolina to go to the polls even after voting by mail.

Twice voting is an offense under North Carolina law – as is forcing someone to vote twice – North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell has warned.

“The State Board has a dedicated investigative team investigating allegations of double voting, and will approach prosecutors when a warrant is sought,” Bell said.

The warning came after Trump told a group of supporters in Wilmington at the airport: “If you get unwanted ballots, send them, and then go – make sure it counts.” If it does not count, you vote. You vote, and if they list it too late, they should not, they will see that they voted for you, so it will not count. So, go ahead and vote. It’s not listed – you vote, you ‘re going to count the votes, ”Trump said.

Thursday afternoon, Twitter Trump’s morning tweets were flagged He reiterated that “Twitter violates the rules of civility and electoral integrity.”

Facebook took a similar step by attaching a statement to Trump’s post saying, “Voting by mail has a long history of credibility in the US, and it is predicted this year as well.” (Read more about voting by mail; The FBI says There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, Despite Trump’s claims.)

The spokesman said Facebook would not allow people to share Trump’s video because it violated our policies banning voter fraud.

At a news conference Thursday, White House Press Secretary Kyle McInani said the president does not approve of illegal voting.

Earlier, a White House spokeswoman denied that Trump had asked people to vote twice, and said that the news media was taking his comments “out of context.”

No one has fought harder for an electoral system that is no more fair, fraudulent and abusive than President Trump. The idea that he is encouraging people to vote twice is just another example of the media taking him out of context, ”Dior said in a statement.

Nine states and the District of Columbia Ballots are sent to all registered voters, North Carolina is not, and because there are nine more states, the state does not send absentee ballot applications to voters.

In an interview with WCET Television, Asked Trump about his faith in the state’s absentee voting system.

“They will go out, they will vote, they have to go to the polls and vote that way and they have to go and check their vote because if it is listed they can not do it,” he said. “So, let’s send it to them and let them vote. If their system is as good as they say it’s, they can clearly vote if it’s right. If it’s not listed, they will be able to vote, and so on.”

Amber McReinolds, head of the National Vote at Home Institute and director of elections in Denver, said security measures were in place in most states to prevent Trump-type actions.

When voters sign an envelope containing their ballot, they say, “It’s like you check in at a polling station in a ballot book.” “You turn on that envelope and check yourself from the list.”

“If voters show up in person and you request a mail ballot, you will be given a temporary ballot because you need to confirm that you did not receive your mail ballot,” Macronolds said.

Trump regularly Criticized mail-in voting, Accuses it of being fraudulent without evidence. Due to concerns related to the corona virus pandemic, record voters are expected to cast ballots by mail in the upcoming presidential election.

But Bell, of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said voters should not go to the polls to check if their ballots are counted.

The state board office is strongly discouraged from abstaining from voting on election day. “It’s not necessary, it’s likely to lead to more lines and the spread of COVID – 19.”

NPR Tech correspondent Shannon Bond contributed to this story.