McGrath... it is hard for those in smaller countries to understand what having 50 states.. and territories.. with rules almost amounting to separate countries.... can mean. It is very similar to gun laws or abortion restrictions. they just don't all do it the same way.
   It's called **states rights** and it's written into the Constitution.

It seemed to make sense in 1789, but it hit a snag in the mid 1860s when slavery became a major issue...Now, because it takes both houses of Congress to pass a change and 3/4 of all states to ratify it,it is VERY hard to get enough conservative states to agree. So, it is something of a stalemate. We are trapped by our own regulations.

Add to that the problem of writing vote counting procedures that work the same in Idaho and New York with very different demographics and populations... and 'modern' technology that is VERY hard to make secure... and you have a dilemma. Count paper ballots by hand? Weeks & weeks and many, many hands. Online machines that the Russians.. and some Republicans.. are licking their lips over?
Florida allows counting (however they do it) as votes come in. Nevada does not. Rules about majorities differ, which is why Georgia is having both a recount and a runoff.
   Add to all that a pandemic AND a wannabe autocrat whose party is trying write laws (remember States Rights?) that suppress some voters and you have chaos. Oh... and our stupid "Electoral college" that is also in the Constitution, and it's a wonder we manage at all.

Makes you wonder how it would work if King George had been a nicer guy and England still ruled....