Recent reports indicate that President Donald Trump and his allies are preparing a draft executive order claiming China interfered in the 2020 election, giving President Trump broad emergency powers over elections.

In light of this report, Stephen Richer, a legal fellow with Cato’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, released the following statement:

“Just as there was no emergency justifying the unilateral imposition of worldwide tariffs, there is no election emergency that permits the President to ignore Article 1, Section IV of the Constitution, which assigns election lawmaking authority to the states and Congress. The 2024 election was lawful, accurate, secure, and accessible. There is no reason to think the same will not be true this coming November.”

To speak with Richer about President Trump’s threats to nationalize elections, contact Christopher Tarvardian.