Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Trump Election Moves Raise Fears of Emergency Voting Powers
Some election experts are worried that the federal government could try to take more control over elections.
They are especially concerned about the possibility of using a national emergency declaration.
Lawyers say the president cannot simply take over elections because states and Congress have important constitutional roles.
President Donald Trump and his allies have also repeated claims about noncitizens appearing on voter lists.
In New Jersey, about 6,600 noncitizens were registered because of a software error.
Fewer than 400 of those people voted.
Republicans are supporting a bill that would require proof of citizenship and allow more federal inspection of voter rolls.
Critics say these changes could make elections less controlled by states and local governments.
Voting experts and election officials fear the administration could use emergency powers to challenge November’s election results.
Legal experts say presidential emergency powers would not override constitutional limits on election administration.
States administer elections, while Congress has significant authority over federal election rules.
Trump allies are amplifying claims about noncitizens on voter rolls after a New Jersey software error.
Republicans are promoting the Save America Act, which would require citizenship proof and increase federal election oversight.
- Who
- The Trump administration, voting experts, election officials, election advocates, and congressional Republicans are central to the report.
- What
- Concerns have arisen that emergency powers or new legislation could increase federal control over election administration and affect November’s vote.
- When
- The concerns are emerging ahead of the November elections; the New Jersey voter-roll disclosure was recent.
- Where
- The issue concerns elections across the United States, with specific developments in New Jersey and Florida.
- Why
- Trump and his allies have questioned election integrity, while Republicans are seeking stricter voting requirements and greater federal oversight.
Critics and Election Experts
Trump Allies and Republican Supporters
Federal control of elections
Critics and Election Experts
Voting rights groups and experts fear emergency powers or federal legislation could improperly nationalize elections and weaken state authority.
Trump Allies and Republican Supporters
Republicans are pursuing tighter federal oversight, including voter-roll inspections and a greater Department of Homeland Security role in determining eligibility.
Emergency declaration
Critics and Election Experts
Legal experts say a presidential emergency declaration would not override constitutional limits or allow unilateral control of election administration.
Trump Allies and Republican Supporters
The report says some administration actions appear to be laying groundwork for a possible emergency declaration, although it does not establish that such a declaration will occur.
Noncitizen voting claims
Critics and Election Experts
Critics say the New Jersey software error, involving about 6,600 registrations and fewer than 400 votes, is being used to promote broader unsupported claims about widespread noncitizen voting.
Trump Allies and Republican Supporters
Trump and his allies cite noncitizens appearing on voter rolls as support for stricter voting requirements and closer federal oversight.
- Potential emergency action
- Voting experts fear the administration could seek a national emergency declaration to challenge or delegitimize the November election outcome.
- Constitutional limits
- States have a central role in administering elections, and Congress has significant authority over federal election rules.
- Historical precedent
- No United States president has previously attempted to use emergency powers to take control of the voting system.
- New Jersey registrations
- About 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote because of a software error; fewer than 400 ultimately voted.
- Save America Act
- The proposed bill would require documentary proof of citizenship and allow federal inspection of state voter rolls.
- Department of Homeland Security role
- Under the proposal, the Department of Homeland Security could seek removal of people it determines are ineligible to remain registered.