Elections in the United States
Elections in the United States occur at federal, state, and local levels and include contests for executive, legislative, and judicial offices, as well as referendums and initiatives in many states. Election administration is largely decentralized to the states, subject to constitutional protections and federal statutes.
Major types
- Federal: United States presidential election, congressional (House every two years; Senate staggered six-year terms).
- State: governors, legislatures, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and others (varies by state).
- Local: mayors, councils, school boards, county officials, and special districts.
Key features
- Single-member districts are common for legislatures; many local bodies use at-large seats.
- Primary elections select party nominees in most jurisdictions.
- Early voting, vote-by-mail, and absentee voting vary by state.