Curtis urges state-led election administration, warns against federal overreach

Sen. John Curtis told the Hinckley audience that the Constitution leaves election administration to the states and that federalizing elections would risk ill-fitting nationwide changes. "The founders very wisely gave elections to states," he said, arguing that state 'laboratories' produce varied approaches and innovations like Utah's mail-in balloting.

Curtis recommended constituents who question election processes contact local county clerks: "If you call your county clerk, you can go in, meet with them, see the process, give suggestions, ask questions," he said, adding that local officials are accessible in a way federal authorities are not.

On the balance between state and federal roles, Curtis said some national functions remain important — for example, national defense and interstate highways — but many matters, from education to zoning, are better decided by those closer to affected communities. He also suggested that devolving decisions to states, counties and cities can reduce national political polarization.

Curtis framed his comments as both constitutional and practical: he said decentralized governance produces accountability and tailored policy outcomes, while centralized mandates risk mismatches between policy and local needs.