The one that writes the program decides if the program needs to run elevated or not for the program to run properly. You just allow or not allow it to when you run it through the UAC prompt. It's normal for a program to need to run elevated in order for it to be able to make changes that affect the system, or for it to have the need access permission. For example, the free program CCleaner must run elevated in order to be able delete what it finds when you approve it.
Some programs require to run as administrator (elevated), and others do not. It's just up to you if you trust the program or not to allow it or not. That's all.