Ballot box, mid-20th century

Unknown artist

The act of voting has been the centerpiece of American democracy since the founding, but the physical means of doing so has evolved over time. Article I, Section IV of the U.S. Constitution gives individual states the right to decide how their elections are run, though there are certain regulatory laws in place that states must follow. Therefore, election standards can and do vary widely across the country, especially as new technologies become available.