Updated
No emergency declaration gives the president power to ban voting machines or order states to hand count ballots.
The rumor: False “The president can declare a national emergency to ban voting machines and force hand counts.”
The facts: Elections are run by states and counties under rules set by state law and Congress, and federal courts have already blocked key parts of two election executive orders this year. Some activists are urging the White House to try, citing foreign parts in voting machines, but federal investigators found no evidence to support that security claim. Your county still runs your election: vote the way you planned, and check your polling place and hours with your county election office.
How this story developed
- Axios reports election activists close to the White House openly discussed martial law and urged use of the National Emergencies Act to change how states run elections. No executive action has followed.
- Brennan Center analysis finds no emergency power, including a national emergency, the Insurrection Act, or commander in chief authority, gives the president control over federal elections.
- Votebeat reports election skeptics, including Tina Peters and Mike Lindell, urging the White House to use emergency powers to ban voting machines. The White House did not comment.
Sources
- Votebeat Other source Archived copy
- Brennan Center: No emergency power lets a president control elections, Oct 16 Primary document Checked Archived copy
- Axios: election activists openly discuss martial law, Oct 16 News report Checked
- UW CIP: martial law speculation is a persistent narrative, Oct 20 Fact-check Checked Archived copy