1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to urge you to unambiguously reject any proposal, rhetoric, or action aimed at “nationalizing” or federally taking over the administration of U.S. elections. The United States Constitution is clear about the structure of our electoral system. Under Article I, Section 4, the “Times, Places and Manner” of congressional elections are primarily delegated to the states, with Congress holding only a limited regulatory role. The Tenth Amendment further affirms that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states and the people. This decentralized system is not a flaw—it is a foundational safeguard designed to prevent the concentration of power over elections in any single authority. For more than two centuries, our nation has relied on state and local election administration to protect against manipulation, coercion, and partisan interference. Centralizing control of elections at the federal or executive level would undermine this system of checks and balances and create a dangerous pathway for abuse of power, regardless of who holds office. Federal law already provides important guardrails to protect voting rights and election integrity, including the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act, and relevant provisions of the Civil Rights Act. These laws are meant to ensure access, fairness, and transparency—not to transfer the operational control of elections away from states and local officials who are directly accountable to their communities. I ask you to publicly and clearly affirm your commitment to: - The constitutional role of states in administering elections - The separation of powers and limits on executive authority - The principle that free, fair, and locally administered elections are essential to a functioning democracy This is not a partisan issue. It is a fundamental question of whether we will preserve the constitutional structure that protects the right of the people to choose their leaders without centralized political control over the process itself. I urge you to oppose any legislation, executive action, or political movement that would weaken state and local authority over elections or concentrate that power in the federal government. Thank you for your service and for standing in defense of the Constitution and democratic governance.