Constitutional guardrails curb Trump’s push to nationalize elections

Trump’s call for Republicans to “take over” or “nationalize” voting would clash with the Constitution’s Elections Clause, which assigns states—via their legislatures—the power to run elections, while Congress can set nationwide standards. Experts say a federal takeover would require new legislation and is unlikely, given the decentralized system that helps deter fraud and logistical chaos. The White House tied his remarks to the SAVE Act, but past moves to federalize voting—including 2020 executive orders and the Help America Vote Act of 2002—have faced legal challenges. The article frames the situation as a critical test of federalism and democratic norms.