Statement on Trump’s call to nationalize elections

This statement is in response to breaking news. Please contact pr@rstreet.org to speak with the scholars.

President Donald Trump recently called for the nationalization of elections in 15 states. In response, the R Street Institute’s Matt Germer, director of our governance program, and governance team fellows Chris McIsaac and Jonathan Madison, released the following statement:

“The U.S. Constitution assigns primary responsibility for election administration to the states and this decentralization is a strength of the American system. Congress does have some oversight authority for how states conduct federal elections, but President Trump’s call for Republicans to nationalize elections represents an unacceptable expansion of Washington’s role in the mechanics of election administration that threatens to sow panic and confusion across the country, decreasing trust in elections. To the extent that President Trump is dissatisfied with certain state election policies, he should work with Congress to enact targeted laws that address specific issues, such as requiring voter ID or enhancing citizenship verification, rather than threatening a wholesale federal takeover of the election process.”