States have primary constitutional authority over elections. Each state has a Chief Election Official and a set of structures for managing voter registration, certifying equipment, setting rules, and certifying results.
Every state has a designated Chief Election Official who oversees statewide election administration. The title and structure vary significantly — in most states it's the Secretary of State, but several states use a board, a Lt. Governor, or a standalone election official.
| Structure | # of States | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State | 38 | California, Texas, Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania (and most others) |
| Lt. Governor | 2 | Alaska, Utah |
| State Board of Elections (appointed) | ~7 | Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, New York |
| Other / Dedicated Election Official | ~3 | Varies |
NASED is a membership organization for state and territorial election directors — the professional administrators who implement election policy, procedures, and technologies at the state level. Membership is limited to state and territorial election offices.
The nation's oldest nonpartisan professional organization for public officials. Represents Secretaries of State and other Chief Election Officials. NASS advocates for state interests on federal legislation, facilitates best-practice exchange, and runs the #TrustedInfo voter information campaign to direct voters to official election sources.
Each state has its own election administration structure, laws, and vendors. Detailed pages for individual states are planned — covering each state's Chief Election Official, voting systems in use, key rules, and recent election history.