County/ˈkaʊnti/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Administrative Role Counties manage local services like police, fire departments, and public libraries. The county budget allocates funds for the fire department. Pro Tip 2/3Election Jurisdictions Counties are important during elections; they organize and tally votes within their boundaries. She volunteered at her local county election office. Pro Tip 3/3Geographic Variation The size and function of counties can vary greatly between different states and countries. The county has more autonomy in some states than in others.