The US Constitution explicitly grants states the authority to determine the ‘Times, Places and Manner’ of holding elections|Tom Arthur|CC BY-SA 2.0
President Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers to “nationalize” the voting process when speaking in a recent interview with Dan Bongino, the former deputy director of the FBI.
He suggested the government should take over election oversight in at least 15 locations.
The proposal directly challenges the US Constitution, which explicitly grants states the authority to determine the “Times, Places and Manner” of holding elections.
While Congress holds the power to alter certain regulations, it has no constitutional role in local election management.
Trump’s stance is a U-turn from the traditional Republican views, which emphasize states’ rights and limited federal intervention. It comes as he has repeatedly alleged widespread fraud in America’s election process, including in the 2020 election.