1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

We need immediate public opposition to recent rhetoric advocating federal or partisan “nationalization” of U.S. elections and proposals suggesting immigration enforcement presence at polling locations. Both ideas are reckless, legally unsound, and incompatible with constitutional protections governing elections and voting rights. Our Constitution assigns primary election administration to the states under Article I, Section 4. Attempts to impose partisan federal control raise serious Tenth Amendment concerns. Likewise, deploying or threatening to deploy ICE agents at polling sites risks illegal voter intimidation. Federal law explicitly prohibits such conduct. Under 52 U.S.C. § 10101(b) and 52 U.S.C. § 10307(b), intimidation or coercion of voters is unlawful. Criminal statutes including 18 U.S.C. § 594 (voter intimidation), 18 U.S.C. § 241 (conspiracy against rights), and 18 U.S.C. § 242 (deprivation of rights under color of law) reinforce these protections. The First and Fourteenth Amendments further safeguard free political participation and equal access to the ballot. I am asking you to PUBLICALLY state on the record that federalizing elections for partisan purposes and using federal enforcement authority in ways that intimidate voters are unacceptable and contrary to law. I also expect you to initiate or support concrete oversight action ensuring federal agencies will not interfere with lawful voting or state election administration.