1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to publicly oppose any attempt by the Trump administration to impose voter ID requirements for the 2026 midterm elections without congressional approval. Recent statements by President Trump suggesting he will require voter ID "whether approved by Congress or not" represent a direct threat to constitutional governance and the integrity of our electoral system. The Constitution explicitly grants states the authority to determine the manner of conducting elections, with Congress holding limited oversight powers under Article I, Section 4. The executive branch has no constitutional authority to unilaterally impose voting requirements on states. Any attempt to do so would be a flagrant violation of the separation of powers and federalism principles that underpin our democracy. Federal elections are administered by state and local officials under state law. Seventeen states currently do not require photo identification to vote, and their election systems function securely and effectively. Allowing the executive branch to override state election laws by fiat would set a dangerous precedent that could be exploited by future administrations of any party to manipulate electoral outcomes. I ask that you take three specific actions. First, issue a public statement affirming that only Congress and state legislatures have the authority to set voting requirements. Second, commit to opposing any executive orders or administrative actions that attempt to impose federal voter ID mandates. Third, support legislation that explicitly reaffirms state authority over election administration and prohibits executive overreach in this area. The right to vote is fundamental to our democracy. Protecting it from unconstitutional executive actions should be a bipartisan priority. I look forward to your response on how you will defend constitutional governance and voting rights against this threat.