Pennsylvania officials rejecting President Trump's call to nationalize elections

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Pennsylvania officials are rejecting President Donald Trump's call to nationalize elections, reiterating that, constitutionally, the authority to run voting systems belongs to the states.

Gov. Josh Shapiro reaffirmed states will maintain control over their own election operations, stating, "We're not going to have interference from the White House or anyone."

Philadelphia elections commissioner Omar Sabir echoed that message during a news conference, telling voters, "You will be able to vote. I will put my life on the line."

READ MORE | Trump urges Republicans to 'take over' and 'nationalize' voting

Their comments come after Trump said on Monday, on the Dan Bongino Show, that "The Republicans should say, 'We want to take over.' We should take over the voting ... in at least many, 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting."

Under the U.S. Constitution, elections are administered by the states.

Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, said, "Section 1 Article 4 states that the states are in charge of elections unless Congress makes a law otherwise."

The White House said Trump was simply advocating for passage of the SAVE America Act, which would require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and mandate identification at polling places. The bill has passed the House.

Cristella said the proposal could restrict access to voting. "That's a problem that more than 21 million Americans don't have easy access to those documents," she said.

There has also been public discussion about the possibility of ICE agents being stationed at polling places.

The White House said there is no official plan to deploy federal agents. Under state law, police officers must remain at least 100 feet from a polling place entrance.