Every state must maintain voter registration processes that allow only eligible voters to vote, and to vote only once.

Every state has a process for testing and approving voting equipment. In fact, most states rely on a federal testing and certification program that has been in operation for almost 20 years.

Every state and jurisdiction has safety checks that secure and document when election materials are transferred from one owner to another during the election process. This “chain of custody” is required for ballots and voting equipment as they are prepared and transferred to polling places.

46 states have a form of early voting that allows voters to cast their ballot before Election Day either in person or by mail. 

47 states and the District of Columbia have a method for voters to track their mail ballot to ensure it is received by election officials.

The certification period following the election is the time in which election officials painstakingly count every ballot cast, check for duplicates, verify voter status, and give voters a chance to rectify mistakes that might otherwise disqualify their ballot.

Every state allows Republican and Democratic election observers to have equal access to the vote count process.

48 states conduct a post-election audit to ensure that results are accurate and that outcomes are correct.