A network of MAGA activists and administration allies has circulated plans urging President Donald Trump to declare a “national emergency,” which they say would justify broad federal authority over the administration of elections — a move that legal experts and critics say would be unconstitutional and unprecedented in modern U.S. history.
A 17-page draft executive order circulating among MAGA activists and previewed by The Washington Post proposes that Trump invoke national security measures to take sweeping control of election processes, including federal oversight of state-administered voting procedures. The draft cites alleged foreign interference by China and other countries — claims that run counter to established intelligence assessments showing no evidence of outcome-changing foreign manipulation of voting systems.
Foreign governments tried to influence American voters in both 2016 and 2020 — but U.S. intelligence agencies drew a key distinction.
In 2016, officials concluded that Russia conducted influence operations intended to sway public opinion. They found no evidence that voting systems were hacked to alter vote tallies.
In 2020, agencies concluded that foreign actors, including Russia and Iran, again conducted influence campaigns. Officials said there was no evidence that foreign governments altered vote counts or determined the election outcome.
Subsequent audits and court cases likewise found no evidence of outcome-changing foreign manipulation.
As Mediaite reports:
Peter Ticktin, one of the MAGA activists advocating for the executive order, claimed there are “foreign interests” that are interfering with and threatening election integrity in the United States. Ticktin is a Florida lawyer who attended New York Military Academy with Trump, and he previously served on the president’s legal team in an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging Democrats conspired against Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
“Here we have a situation where the president is aware that there are foreign interests that are interfering in our election processes,” the lawyer said. “That causes a national emergency where the president has to be able to deal with it.”
The executive order would also require voters to re-register to vote with a picture ID ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The White House has not formally acted on the draft order or issued a national emergency declaration related to elections, and spokespeople have emphasized that no final policy has been announced. Critics — including voting rights advocates and lawmakers — argue that seeking such emergency powers reflects unfounded election fraud claims and could undermine public confidence in democratic processes if pursued.
The U.S. Constitution gives states primary authority to administer elections (Article I, Section 4, and longstanding practice). Congress has the authority to regulate federal elections. A president does not have unilateral authority to seize control of state election systems without new legislation or extraordinary emergency powers. Invoking national security mechanisms (such as the National Emergencies Act or other statutes) to override state election administration would almost certainly face immediate constitutional challenges.
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“… and previewed by The Washington Post.” Somewhere there’s another problem with people holding information confidential. Find it and get it out.
Well, when the Bill is killed in the Senate, there will be no other choice. We will have legitimate elections!