The U.S. Constitution assigns primary authority over the “times, places, and manner” of federal elections to the states, with Congress holding the power to alter rules, leaving the president without independent authority to nationalize administration. Multiple Trump administration executive orders from 2025 and 2026 seeking proof-of-citizenship requirements, mail-ballot restrictions, and expanded federal oversight of voter rolls have been blocked or struck down by federal courts, including district rulings and Supreme Court actions affirming state and congressional roles. Recent DOJ lawsuits targeting state certification processes and voter data have largely failed or been enjoined ahead of the 2026 midterms, with judges citing overreach and lack of statutory basis. These institutional and legal constraints, alongside decentralized election infrastructure across thousands of jurisdictions, underpin trader consensus that full nationalization remains improbable despite periodic administration pressure and legislative proposals.