Here’s a clear, straightforward explanation, phrased as if you were telling it directly to a president:
Mr. President, the U.S. Constitution divides power between the federal government and the states. Elections are one of the areas where states hold primary authority. Under Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution, states set the “times, places, and manner” of holding elections. They determine how voter registration works and how ballots are designed. They organize polling places and decide how votes are counted.
The federal government does play a role, but it’s limited. Congress can pass laws to create minimum standards. For example, Congress can ban racial discrimination in voting through the Voting Rights Act. Congress can also set uniform dates for federal elections or require accessibility standards. But these laws don’t eliminate state control; they only establish boundaries that states must respect.
So, in practice, states are not subservient to the federal government on voting. They have wide latitude to run elections. They can do so as they see fit. They must remain within constitutional protections and federal laws. That’s why voting rules can differ from one state to another. Rules vary in areas like mail-in ballots, voter ID requirements, and early voting periods.
In short:
States run elections.
The federal government sets guardrails.
Neither can completely override the other.