Trump Is Trying to Nationalize Elections. States Won’t Let Him

President Trump signed an executive order on March 31 directing the Department of Homeland Security to create a "State Citizenship List" and barring the U.S. Postal Service from delivering ballots to voters not on a federal list, while encouraging the Justice Department to prosecute local election officials who resist. The order represents Trump's latest attempt to seize control of elections from states, which under the Constitution run their own voting systems through local officials. States are pushing back: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Idaho officials, and others have refused to comply with Trump's demands or hand over voter data. Federal and state courts have consistently sided with states in rejecting similar Trump administration overreach, including previous lawsuits seeking access to voter rolls. As 2026 midterms approach, state and local officials are preparing to defend their electoral authority against further federal interference.