Elections are run locally, not nationally

Elections are run locally, not nationally

There is no national election authority in the United States. Elections are administered by states, and in most states delegated further to counties or municipalities. That is why ballot design, voting equipment, early voting rules and registration deadlines differ not just between states but between counties in the same state.

The federal role is narrower than commonly assumed: it sets floor requirements through statutes on voting rights, accessibility and registration, funds and certifies voting-system standards, and enforces civil-rights protections. It does not run elections or count votes.