NACo Election Administration Resource Hub for Counties

It varies state by state, but most states have an elected constitutional/row officer, such as a county clerk or recorder, while others have election directors that are appointed by the county’s chief executive official or legislative board. All counties employ teams made up of hired staff and/or seasonal workers and volunteers to administer elections in their communities. Fifteen states use a single election official model where election administrations are managed by one individual, either appointed or elected. In seven states, a county board is responsible for election administration and acts as the chief county election authority. Twenty-six states use a mixture of local board of elections and two or more individuals. Counties oversee election administration in 36 states, six states have a shared county and municipality responsibility, four states have no county role in elections and two states implement a different system. Alaska has state oversight, and Delaware is state managed, county implemented.

It is a mix of federal, state and local funds. In some cases, philanthropic grant funding is also utilized, although 27 states have prohibited, limited or regulated this form of funding as of the end of 2023. Counties often pay for county-level races, while states cover state and federal races. Election administration costs are covered by both county and state funds in 21 states; by either the state, municipality or county in 13 states; by county and municipality in 9 states; by municipality and the state in three states; and by state-only funds in two states.  

Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant programs are the main source of federal funding. States must submit a request with a proposed budget and description of how funds will be used. The grants available: the Election Security Grant, which provides funding to improve election administration, election security and election technology; Section 251 Requirement Payments, which provides funding for states to carry out HAVA requirements; and the Homeland Security Grant Program, which is available for improving election infrastructure -- both physical security and cybersecurity ($1.008 billion was allocated for fiscal year 2024). Since 2022, the Department of Justice has also allowed funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, which supports law enforcement and criminal justice initiatives, to be used to protect election workers from violence and threats.

No. There may be cases in which a polling place has WiFi accessibility, but this does not mean that voting machines or systems are connected to the internet. Some counties allow ballot scanners to be connected to private networks; however, in most states it is against the law for voting machines to be connected to the internet. 

Security measures vary based on state law and specific voting systems. Counties ensure election security by upholding voter ID requirements and following common best practices such as the use of security cameras, locks, audits and cybersecurity testing for voting machines. There is a strict chain-of-custody procedure to ensure ballot security, including limiting the number of individuals who can access ballots and secure storage of them to allow for audits or recounts. Cybersecurity measures are increasingly important in ensuring election integrity. These include encryption, multifactor authentication and monitoring systems for suspicious activity. Cybersecurity testing for voting machines is not required, but many counties have several cybersecurity measures in place and 48 states have a post-election audit to ensure the equipment worked correctly during voting. 

No. There may be cases in which a polling place has WiFi accessibility, but this does not mean that voting machines or systems are connected to the internet. Some counties allow ballot scanners to be connected to private networks; however, in most states it is against the law for voting machines to be connected to the internet. 

County election offices have a multifaceted process in place to prevent voter fraud that varies by each state. Generally, counties ensure that current and accurate voter rolls are maintained, which includes collaborating with other states to compare and update registration and voting records. In most states, voting more than once is a felony. In instances where voter eligibility cannot be verified, they may be allowed to vote by a provisional ballot, which will only be processed and counted should the voter’s eligibility be verified. 

There are many ways to learn about election administration, including online resources provided by NACo, the Election Assistance Commission and other organizations. Local elections offices will have county-specific information. The Election Center also offers a CERA Certification course on election administration training and information. Participating in workshops, webinars and community events hosted by local and national nonprofits may be a great way to both learn about and participate in the process. Becoming a poll watcher or worker is another way to be involved.

This varies by jurisdiction, but is largely due to several factors: (1) state laws prohibiting the processing/tabulation of ballots until after the polls close on election night; (2) lack of resources to help expedite the processing/tabulation of ballots, such as ballot tabulators; or (3) mail ballots casted closer to Election Day may arrive days after polls close on election night.   

Ultimately, the initial results posted on election night are unofficial and are typically reported as ballots are processed and tabulated. In some states, early and mail-in votes are already processed and tabulated by Election Day and reported as soon as polls close. However, state laws and resource constraints may require counties days to complete ballot processing and tabulating. In these cases, reported results may not be final for several days following Election Day. In total, each of these circumstances may lead to instances where results reported on election night do not reflect the final outcome of a race. Only election officials issuing election certification can provide official results.