Why do the states make most election laws?

Answer 1

We have to go way back to the beginning of our country for this answer.

Back when the US was young, the federal government was constructed primarily to do business with other countries, most of which were monarchies. The US is a constitutional republic, meaning that people are supposed to have a voice in the operation of the country...a radical idea at our country's founding.

The operation of various areas (states) were a local government affair and the federal government was not designed to oversee such a huge domain. Therefore, the states decided what laws they needed to enact in order to run their particular area properly. In some states, it seemed right and proper to not conduct business on Sunday. In other states, alcohol sales were rigidly regulated. The federal government really has no reason to take up such issues as it does not affect all of the country.

In such a manner, states decided when and how to vote. It is still a matter of local opinion. However, most voting regulations have come to be standardized with little variation due to our instantaneous communications today. But back when the nation was young, voting could (and often did) take place over the course of several weeks, with the results being collected nationally months later. Transportation was slow and tedious, the mail equally slow, so local governments literally needed to decide issues within the community. As a byproduct, the College of Electors was made to make the will of the people known.

Today we are used to seeing results almost instantly, but as late at 1976, it was several days before all the votes were made public. As a very young child, I remember that mail from California to Tennessee took two weeks! It was only a week for Air Mail, meaning that it was not sent via train, but on a plane. Today, we have virtual mail, instant communication, and many other marvels. But in the beginning, the states (and local government) were the only government that people really knew.

So short version, states reserve to themselves the right to govern locally, which means they get to decide voting laws...within federal limits.

Answer 2

We have to go way back to the beginning of our country for this answer.

Back when the US was young, the federal government was constructed primarily to do business with other countries, most of which were monarchies. The US is a constitutional republic, meaning that people are supposed to have a voice in the operation of the country...a radical idea at our country's founding.

The operation of various areas (states) were a local government affair and the federal government was not designed to oversee such a huge domain. Therefore, the states decided what laws they needed to enact in order to run their particular area properly. In some states, it seemed right and proper to not conduct business on Sunday. In other states, alcohol sales were rigidly regulated. The federal government really has no reason to take up such issues as it does not affect all of the country.

In such a manner, states decided when and how to vote. It is still a matter of local opinion. However, most voting regulations have come to be standardized with little variation due to our instantaneous communications today. But back when the nation was young, voting could (and often did) take place over the course of several weeks, with the results being collected nationally months later. Transportation was slow and tedious, the mail equally slow, so local governments literally needed to decide issues within the community. As a byproduct, the College of Electors was made to make the will of the people known.

Today we are used to seeing results almost instantly, but as late at 1976, it was several days before all the votes were made public. As a very young child, I remember that mail from California to Tennessee took two weeks! It was only a week for Air Mail, meaning that it was not sent via train, but on a plane. Today, we have virtual mail, instant communication, and many other marvels. But in the beginning, the states (and local government) were the only government that people really knew.

So short version, states reserve to themselves the right to govern locally, which means they get to decide voting laws...within federal limits.