Denouncing statements by President Donald J. Trump that he may "nationalize," commandeer, or otherwise assume direct control over elections.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1062
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:08:23Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1062) denounces public statements by President Donald J. Trump suggesting he might "nationalize," commandeer, or take direct control over elections. It emphasizes that elections are primarily managed by states and local authorities under the U.S. Constitution, not the President.
Key Provisions
- Constitutional Background: Cites Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution, which gives states primary control over the "times, places, and manner" of federal elections, with Congress able to make or alter regulations. The President has no direct role.
- Criticism of Statements: Highlights Trump's calls for one political party to "take over the voting" or "nationalize the voting" in certain places, viewing them as proposals to override state roles.
- Rejection of 2020 Claims: Notes that claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election have been debunked by courts, officials, and fact-checkers.
- Resolved Actions (the House of Representatives):
- Affirms states, localities, and Congress oversee federal elections.
- Rejects any presidential "nationalization" or control of elections.
- Declares such efforts unconstitutional and invalid without explicit legal authority.
- Expresses concern that advocating this undermines federalism (division of power between federal and state governments), the rule of law, and public trust in elections.
- States that any such presidential action would justify impeachment and removal under Article II of the Constitution.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
None. This is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's view; it does not amend laws, create new rules, or have legal force.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Signals House opposition, potentially influencing congressional oversight of elections or responses to executive actions.
- Citizens: Aims to reinforce public confidence in state-run elections and federalism, but as symbolic, it has no direct effect on voting processes.
- International Relations: Minimal; focuses on domestic election authority.
- Overall, limited practical impact but could shape political debate.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- President Donald J. Trump: Directly criticized; warns of impeachment risk.
- State and Local Election Officials: Affirms their primary role.
- Congress (House of Representatives): Expresses its institutional position.
- Political Parties and Voters: Addresses partisan rhetoric and public trust in elections.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Reinforces federalism (state powers) and separation of powers (limits on executive branch); President's duty is to enforce laws, not override states.
- Legal: Any unilateral presidential action would be deemed illegal and impeachable; no new precedents set.
- Political: Partisan tone (references specific Trump statements and 2020 election); could heighten divisions but underscores commitment to constitutional norms. Referred to House Judiciary Committee for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-12: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-02-12: Submitted in House
- 2026-02-12: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Denouncing statements by President Donald J. Trump that he may "nationalize," commandeer, or otherwise assume direct control over elections. — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (4 pages)