Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws regulating elections.

Posted by The Dan Bongino Show, Oct 19, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictTrue

Sources: 3 support1 context
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 85%

The Dan Bongino ShowOct 19, 2026

Article I, Section 4 (the Elections Clause) expressly gives Congress the power to "make or alter" the regulations for holding elections for Senators and Representatives, so the core assertion holds. The sources limit that power to federal elections and say Congress has no general authority over state and local elections, so the claim is accurate only with that scope.

The host relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.

What was said

… How must they kill them to put this in there? Check this out. Republicans should say, we want to take over. We should take over the voting, the voting in at least many 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting in America. Elections are local; they're run by towns and counties and states. It's all in Article 1 of the Constitution. Congress makes laws regulating elections. This country is so sick because of the election, the fake election, but the president doesn't have a role in running them. That hasn't stopped Mr. Trump from signing two executive orders trying to create new federal voting rules. …

The Dan Bongino Show · Oct 19, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. The Constitution's Article I, Section 4 text states that Congress "may at any time by Law make or alter" the times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives.[2]

Supports. The Cornell analysis says Article I, Section 4, Clause 1 empowers Congress to regulate congressional elections, and the Supreme Court has held that Congress may legislate under it to protect the right to vote for Members of Congress.[3]

Supports. The CRS report says the Elections Clause gives Congress the power to "make or alter" rules regulating congressional elections, and Congress has enacted statutes such as HAVA and the NVRA under that authority.[4]

Context. The sources limit the scope. The CRS report says the Constitution does not give Congress general regulatory authority over state and local elections, and the AP notes the Elections Clause covers federal office and that elections are otherwise run by states and localities.[1][4]