Karen Stoehr

State College

As a concerned citizen, I urge our nation’s governors to stand firm against calls to federalize control of American elections.

The Constitution deliberately assigns the administration of elections to the states. The Founders understood that decentralizing this power would prevent dangerous concentrations of authority and safeguard democratic self-government. For more than two centuries, governors and state officials of both parties have upheld that system.

Recent calls by President Donald Trump to “take over” or “nationalize” elections in states he claims cheats-without evidence — are deeply troubling. The assertion that states are merely “agents” of the federal government in administering elections contradicts constitutional text and longstanding practice.

In Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court reaffirmed limits on executive authority in other contexts; similarly, election administration remains constitutionally grounded in state authority. While Congress may set certain federal standards, the Constitution clearly assigns the “times, places and manner” of elections to the states. A president cannot override that structure by executive order.

This rhetoric is not harmless. Declaring state election systems fraudulent without evidence undermines public trust, pressures election officials and risks improper federal interference.

This should not be a partisan issue. Protecting the integrity of state-run elections protects every voter, regardless of party.

Governors must publicly reaffirm their constitutional authority, defend the independence and safety of election officials, and resist any unlawful federal overreach. The question is not who wins the next election — but whether elections remain free, fair, and administered as the Constitution requires.