Over the past two days, bipartisan DDP board members from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin emphasized that state and local officials are best equipped to administer transparent, safe and secure elections in response to calls for Republicans to “nationalize the voting.” 

Former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

Former Representative Matt Salmon

Former State Representative Daniel Hernandez

Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines

Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss

Former Governor Roy Barnes

Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin

Former Governor Jim Blanchard 

Former Governor John Engler

Former Lt. Gov. John Cherry

Former U.S. Congressman Mike Bishop

Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval

Former Nevada Speaker of the Assembly Richard Perkins

Former Representative Charlie Bass 

Former Ambassador and Representative Dick Swett 

Former Representative Zack Space 

Former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell

Former United States Representative Jim Gerlach 

Former Pennsylvania House Speaker Keith McCall

Former Attorney General JB Van Hollen

Former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Former U.S. Representative Scott Klug

Former Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate

• “Our elections are decentralized by design with the U.S. Constitution expressly delegating this authority to states, allowing local jurisdictions to operate in a manner that best meets the unique needs of their voters. The tenants of decentralizing control from the federal government and giving authority back to the states was a central pillar of the framer’s vision. President Reagan also articulated this point in his vision for America and it has become a longstanding principle for Republican and Democratic leaders alike. Creating a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to elections determined and controlled by the federal government is short-sighted and more susceptible for fraud and abuse.” – Arizona DDP Board Members Former Governor Jan Brewer, Former Representative Matt Salmon, Former State Representative Daniel Hernandez, and Yuma County Supervisor Jonathan Lines

• “Around the world, nationalized elections in places like Venezuela, are a hallmark of authoritarian regimes, where centralized control is used to manipulate results and extend tyrannical rule. Our decentralized, state-run election system is a strength, not a weakness. It protects against foreign interference, provides multiple layers of transparency, fosters civic engagement and bolsters public trust.” – Georgia DDP Board Members Former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, Former Governor Roy Barnes, and Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.

• “The bipartisan Democracy Defense Board strongly opposes a federal government takeover of Michigan’s locally run elections and we urge all Americans to uphold the U.S. Constitution by respecting the balance of power that it carefully establishes. The U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to administer local elections and Michigan has been a model of fair, accurate and efficient elections for decades.” – Michigan DDP Board Members Former Govs. Jim Blanchard and John Engler, Former Lt. Gov. John Cherry, and former U.S. Congressman Mike Bishop

• “Nevada has the capability and experience to conduct elections in every county, and I trust our state is best equipped to collect ballots, count votes and certify our elections.” – Nevada DDP Board Member Former Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval

• “Rhetoric about ‘nationalizing’ elections is dangerous because of the doubt it can cast on the hardworking election officials here in Nevada…Nevada’s elections should be handled in Nevada, by Nevadans…That’s how voters are protected, how accountability is maintained, and how trust is preserved.” – Nevada DDP Board Member Former Nevada Speaker of the Assembly Richard Perkins

• “…We renounce any misguided and unconstitutional federal takeover or legislation to nationalize our New Hampshire elections…Furthermore, we believe locally controlled elections serve as a protection against any fraud or corruption that could be initiated at the federal level. Any problems or issues with one voting precinct at the local level can be identified and remedied, and will never change the outcome of an entire election.” – New Hampshire DDP Board Members Former Representative Charlie Bass and Former Ambassador and Representative Dick Swett 

• “…Moreover, we have complete confidence in the State of Ohio’s ability to efficiently, fairly, and transparently run elections. Our electoral process has been successfully administered, by both Republicans and Democrats, for many decades and contains numerous safeguards that should give all Ohioans confidence in the outcome of our elections. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Ohio, where bipartisan election workers go to extraordinary lengths to ensure the integrity and credibility of the democratic process. We strongly believe that faith in the electoral process is a fundamental component of a vibrant and functioning democracy. And we, one a Democrat the other a Republican, stand firm in assuring voters that Ohio’s electoral process is credible, accurate and fair. There is no compelling logical or Constitutional basis for the suggestion that our electoral process should be ‘nationalized.’” – Ohio DDP Board Members Former Representative Zack Space and Former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell

• “Although Congress has taken steps in the past to strengthen election security through legislation like the Help America Vote Act, proposals to nationalize elections would run counter to the long-standing authority of state legislatures to determine how federal elections are conducted pursuant to Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution. We do not support such efforts and support preserving state-led election oversight.” – Former United States Representative Jim Gerlach and former Pennsylvania House Speaker Keith McCall

• “Wisconsin is not a state that blindly supports a proposal, regardless of party. The administration of elections is a power not delegated to the United States, and is thereby reserved by the states. Any attempt at nationalizing elections infringes on Wisconsin’s rights, and any law abiding citizen should be afraid of the implications a change like this might bring.” – Wisconsin DDP Board Members Former Attorney General JB Van Hollen, Former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Former U.S. Representative Scott Klug and Former Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate