Article 1, Section 4, Paragraph 2
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Regulation of State Rules
The State should actively control Senator elections.
The Federal Government has left the rules of elections to be determined by each state, but reserves the right to alter these rules. The only exception is where polling places would be set up for the Senatorial Elections.
Examples of such laws that have been added include the rule for secret ballot elections and campaign spending limits.
The reason the Election is left to the State Legislature is because the Senators were to be chosen by each State Legislature and so the manner and time of choosing should be delegated to them.
The Federal Government needed to retain power of control over such election rules because it is directly affected by them. However, leaving as much variety to the states was important to allow for regional deviations.
The use of prescribe is a specific term. It indicates that inaction would cause the powers of the election of Senators to return to the Federal Government. The States could only claim their power by acting on it. They could only maintain their authority by using it.
Salvation falls into a very similar vein. It is prescribed by God.
1 Thessalonians 5:9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"
He has ruled we should accept His Salvation and use it, but if we do not, it is withdrawn.
Hebrews 5:9, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
Acceptance and use makes it a gift from God and not reliant on our works.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ignoring it makes it a rejected benefit that becomes unavailable.
Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"
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