American voting laws vary from state to state, with each state having its own rules. Despite these differences, the basic process of voting remains the same across the country. The United States does not have a national election law, leading to variations in requirements such as literacy, registration deadlines, and voting methods. Historically, voting rights have evolved from being limited to property owners to encompassing a much larger and more diverse electorate. The key elements of the electoral process in the US include a secret ballot, a single election day, and free campaigning.