Wisconsin lawmakers, election leaders denounce President's calls to nationalize elections

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin elections officials are reacting to President Trump’s calls to nationalize elections. The Constitution simply does not allow it as states are entrusted to run elections.

Nonetheless, many people across the country are concerned the President’s comments could sow uncertainty. And many people on both sides of the aisle have denounced the president’s suggestions.

Wisconsin leaders are also concerned the President is attacking election integrity just by bringing it up.

Both Democrats and Republicans quickly shot down the President’s comments about nationalizing elections.

Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan told us, “I think it is a nonstarter and it clearly would be an awful idea."

In a town hall this week, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said, "First of all, I do not want to see us nationalizing elections."

Earlier this week, the President said on a podcast, "The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over. We should take over the voting.'" He added, "The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting."

The Constitution explicitly empowers state legislatures with determining how to run elections.

Johnson broke with the President in a telephone town hall this week, saying, "I don't want to nationalize elections. But I certainly think some type of SAVE America Act."

That bill includes a provision for removing noncitizens from voter rolls and would require proof of citizenship to vote.

Noncitizens are already prevented from voting in federal elections.

Mark Thomsen is a commissioner on the Wisconsin Elections Commission. He told us, "I think all of us that care about democracy and fair elections should be concerned."

Wisconsin is one of 23 states the Trump administration is suing, trying to get access to voter records.

In December, the bipartisan WEC voted 5-1 to not turn over those personal voter records.

Thomsen said, “There is no question that our database is secure, that only registered voters are voting."

Democratic Representative Mark Pocan once pointed out more people get struck by lightning than commit in-person voter fraud. He said even floating the idea of federalizing elections creates doubt.

“This is the number one question I get asked at every town hall I do, at every event I speak at," Pocan said. "People are concerned if we're going to have elections in November.”

Pocan worries the President’s comments are meant to chip away at confidence in elections. “It should be of concern to everyone that the President even thinks this is a subject that should come to his mind."

In Washington, both Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson disagreed with the President over nationalizing elections.

A White House spokesperson maintained the President was talking about the SAVE Act.