Consider This from NPR What does it mean when the president urges Republicans to "nationalize the voting"?
37 snips
Feb 8, 2026 
Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center and voting rights expert, explains who actually runs U.S. elections. She walks through legal limits on presidential powers, how officials prepare for midterms, and risks from federal demands for voter data. She also covers why armed federal agents at polls would be unlawful and how proposed laws could restrict voter access.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
States Control Federal Elections
- The Constitution gives states primary authority to run federal elections, not the president or federal agents.
- Congress can change that by law, but the president alone has no role in administering elections.
States Refused To Hand Over Voter Data
- The Trump administration tried to collect sensitive voter-roll data from states but most states refused to hand it over.
- Courts have largely sided with states, saying the administration lacks legal authorization for that data.
Law Bars Armed Federal Agents At Polls
- Federal law prohibits troops or armed federal agents from being near where voting occurs due to voter intimidation rules.
- Threats like deploying ICE around polls are unlawful and intended to intimidate voters.