Washington D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again raised concerns about the integrity of American elections, this time suggesting a sweeping federal takeover of election administration, a move experts say is constitutionally dubious. The remarks, made during a podcast interview, come as the nation prepares for upcoming congressional elections and follow a recent FBI search of a Fulton County, Georgia election office.
Trump, who continues to dispute the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, stated, “The Republicans should say: We want to take over. We should take over the elections – in at least many places, maybe 15 places.” He further proposed that “Republicans should nationalize the elections,” alleging corruption in certain states and claiming victories were wrongly attributed to his opponent. , concerns were already being raised about a Trump administration proposal for a digital federal voter registration form, with state election officials citing legal and practical issues.
However, the U.S. Constitution vests the authority to conduct elections with individual states and local jurisdictions, not the federal government. This fundamental principle of American federalism renders Trump’s proposal legally untenable. Legal scholars point to the Constitution’s framework, which explicitly delegates the power to regulate federal elections to Congress and the States, not the President.
The renewed focus on election integrity follows a recent FBI search of a Fulton County, Georgia election office related to the 2020 election. The search centered on documentation concerning approximately 315,000 early ballots that lacked required signatures from election workers, alongside broader organizational issues identified during the 2020 election cycle. While the search has drawn criticism from some quarters, it is reportedly part of an ongoing investigation into potential irregularities.
The FBI search prompted a phone call from Trump to the agents involved, according to multiple sources. His attorney, Todd Blanche, stated in a CNN interview that he does not believe the President was involved in the preparation of the search. Blanche emphasized the importance of election integrity for all Americans.
The issues in Fulton County prompted reforms following the 2020 election, which independent observers have deemed successful. However, the renewed scrutiny has been characterized by Georgia State Senator Josh McLaurin as another attempt by Trump to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Former Attorney General Bill Barr previously stated that he had not seen evidence of widespread fraud that would have altered the outcome of the 2020 election, even after extensive reviews, including one conducted by the Republican Governor of Georgia.
The White House has not yet commented on Trump’s recent proposals. Meanwhile, current polling data indicates a lead for the Democratic party in the upcoming congressional elections. , a federal court blocked key provisions of Trump’s anti-voting executive order, restoring states’ control over elections. The court, presided over by District Judge John H. Chun, found that the order violated the Constitution by attempting to concentrate election power in the presidency.
The court’s ruling specifically halted provisions that would have required documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, threatened to withhold election funding from non-compliant states and imposed a national deadline for counting mail-in ballots. Judge Chun’s decision underscored the constitutional principle that election regulation is the purview of Congress and the states, not the executive branch.
This legal challenge is part of a broader pattern of attempts by the Trump administration to reshape election rules. , the Brennan Center for Justice warned of a campaign by the Trump administration to undermine the next election, highlighting concerns about the erosion of democratic norms and the potential for interference in the electoral process.
a recent ruling on (based on today’s date) saw a federal court permanently strike down another part of what was described as the president’s anti-voter executive order, marking a significant victory for voters’ rights, according to the Campaign Legal Center. This ongoing series of legal challenges and presidential actions underscores the heightened political stakes surrounding election administration in the United States.
