The Opinions How Hard Is It to Rig an American Election, Really?
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Feb 7, 2026 
David French, a columnist focused on legal and political analysis, and Jamelle Bouie, a national politics writer expert on elections and federalism, debate whether and how federal power could reshape U.S. voting. They explore decentralized election administration, local takeover tactics, misinformation and legal remedies, and risks from radicalized networks and expanded MAGA infrastructure.
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Decentralization Limits Presidential Power
- U.S. elections are decentralized so the president has little direct authority over local administrators.
- Jamelle Bouie says Congress could nationalize elections but otherwise local officials can ignore presidential demands.
MAGA Versus Trump: Different Motives
- MAGA differs from Trump: Trump's fixates on 2020 while MAGA plans for lasting power.
- David French warns MAGA builds forward-looking infrastructure to govern long-term.
Why Nationwide Rigging Is Hard
- Nationwide election hacking is extremely difficult because of decentralized administration.
- David French calls centralization the goal when Trump demands nationalizing elections.