Voting Systems and Equipment
Can Anyone Find Out Who You Voted For?
A public voter record can show that a person voted, but never who the person voted for. The record may also list the voter’s party and…
Running Elections
Running elections is the work of carrying out a vote from start to finish. State and local election officials register voters, set up polling places, handle equipment, count ballots, and certify results. Federal law sets some standards, and courts step in when something goes wrong.
16articles
4topics
October 9last updated
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Latest in Running Elections
Polling Place Operations
Can You Still Vote If You’re in Line When Polls Close?
If you're in line when polls close, you can still vote. States like Virginia and California use lists or markers to track who qualifies.
Polling Place Operations
What to Expect at the Polls on Election Day
Learn what happens at the polls on Election Day, from ID checks and check-in to accessible voting and provisional ballots, plus your voting rights.
Polling Place Operations
Electioneering Rules: How Close Can Campaigners Get to Polls?
Election buffer zones range from 10 to several hundred feet, and federal law bans voter intimidation everywhere, even outside the line.
Topics in Running Elections
People, places, and equipment
Election Officials and Poll Workers covers who does the work. Polling Place Operations covers what happens at the polls, and Voting Systems and Equipment covers the machines and ballots used.
Trust and verification
Election Security and Audits covers protecting and checking the process. Recounts and Certification covers how results are confirmed, and Election Disputes covers challenges that reach courts.
All Articles on Running Elections
The Constitutional Provisions That Give States—Not Presidents—Election Power
The FBI seized original ballots from Georgia in January 2026. The Constitution places election authority squarely with the states—not the president, not federal agencies,…
Can the FBI Seize State Election Records? What Federalism Law Says.
On January 28, 2026, federal agents wearing tactical vests walked into the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Georgia and started loading…
Sealed Warrants and Election Records: How Federal Search Authority Works
On January 28, 2026, FBI agents in tactical gear loaded more than 700 boxes of certified 2020 ballots into vehicles outside Fulton County's election…
What Role Does the Intelligence Director Play in Domestic Law Enforcement?
FBI agents backed trucks up to the Fulton County Elections Hub and Operations Center in Georgia on January 28, 2026, and loaded boxes of…
Why the FBI Is Reinvestigating 2020 Election Claims Courts Rejected
The FBI election inquiry raises distinct questions about records, criminal intent and vote counts, alongside earlier court rulings and Georgia ballot checks.
Voter Registration Data: What’s Public, What’s Protected, and Who Decides
On January 25, 2026, Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz demanding the state's voter registration files, including Social…
How a Blocked Voter-ID Order Still Shapes New Federal Lawsuits
The order's provisions—specifically those requiring documented proof of citizenship for voter registration and prohibiting the counting of ballots that arrive after Election Day—exceeded presidential…
Why Multiple Federal Courts Can Block the Same Executive Order
Multiple federal courts can hear separate challenges to one executive order. Each injunction has its reach, and winning one appeal may leave another block.
States Are Building a Patchwork of Laws to Regulate Election Deepfakes
State election deepfake laws differ in timing, disclosures, penalties and court limits, shaping how deceptive campaign messages can be challenged.
How the US Protects Elections from Foreign Interference
The National Security Council coordinates America's defense against foreign election interference, orchestrating intelligence agencies, cybersecurity experts, and law enforcement to protect the democratic process…