American voters go to the polls on 5 November to choose their next president.US election results have sometimes been declared within hours of the polls closing, but this year’s tight contest could mean a longer wait.
As votes are cast and counted in the U.S. election, many are left wondering: When will we know who has won? Election night in the U.S. often provides strong indicators of who might emerge victorious, but finalizing results can take longer, especially as different states have varied processes and timelines for counting ballots.
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When is the 2024 presidential election result expected?
In some presidential races the victor has been named late on election night, or early the next morning. This time, the knife-edge race in many states could mean media outlets wait longer before projecting who has won. Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice-president, and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, have been running neck-and-neck for weeks.
Narrow victories could also mean recounts. In the key swing state of Pennsylvania, for example, a state-wide recount would be required if there’s a half-percentage-point difference between the votes cast for the winner and loser. In 2020, the margin was just over 1.1 percentage points. Legal challenges are also possible. More than 100 pre-election lawsuits have already been filed, including challenges to voter eligibility and voter roll management, by Republicans.
Election Night Expectations
In some states, results are often clear by the end of election night. States with significant in-person voting and efficient counting methods may see preliminary results as soon as polls close and initial vote counts are processed. Key swing states are often closely monitored, as their outcomes can provide strong indications of overall trends in tight races.
Counting Mail-In and Early Ballots
The process gets more complex when factoring in mail-in and early ballots. Many states allow early voting weeks in advance, and counting those ballots may vary by state. Some states begin processing and counting mail-in ballots before Election Day, while others, such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, wait until Election Day itself. This delay in starting the count for mail-in ballots can add extra time to the overall process, especially in states with a high volume of mail-in voters.
Tight Races and Potential Runoffs
If the race is particularly close, it may not be clear who has won until all ballots are counted. Additionally, some states have runoff rules, meaning if no candidate achieves a specific percentage of the vote, a runoff election is required, further delaying final results. This is especially relevant in high-stakes races where every vote truly counts.
Certification and Final Results
After all ballots are counted, each state undergoes a certification process to finalize its results. This can take days to weeks, depending on recounts or legal challenges. State officials work to ensure every vote is counted accurately, maintaining integrity throughout the certification process.
In summary, while we may see initial results on election night, official results may take days or even weeks to confirm, especially in a closely contested race. Patience is essential, and voters can stay informed through reliable news sources for the latest updates.
What are the key states to watch in 2024?
Across the country, the first polls will close at 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT) on Tuesday evening and the last polls will close at 01:00 EST (06:00 GMT) early on Wednesday. But this race is expected to come down to results from seven swing states. These are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Polls close at different times in different regions. State-specific rules could prolong counting in some states, while other states may report partial figures moments after the last in-person vote is cast. Also, some absentee and mail-in ballots, including votes by members of the military and Americans living overseas, are normally among the last to be counted.
Georgia :- Polls close in the Peach State at 19:00 EST (00:00 GMT). Early and mail-in ballots will be counted first, ahead of in-person votes. Georgia’s top election official estimates that about 75% of votes will be counted within the first two hours, with a full tally possible expected by later in the night.
North Carolina :- Polls close thirty minutes after Georgia. North Carolina’s results are expected to be announced before the end of the night, however, complications may arise in areas that were hit by a hurricane in September.
Pennsylvania :- Voting ends at 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT) in the Keystone State – the crown jewel of all the swing states in this election cycle. Like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania does not allow counting to begin until the morning of the election, leading to an expected delay in results. Experts agree that it may take at least 24 hours before enough votes are counted for a winner to emerge.
Michigan :- Voting concludes at 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT) in the Wolverine State. Michigan allows officials to begin counting votes one week before election day, but they are not allowed to reveal the results until these polls shut. Michigan’s top election official has said that a result should not be expected until the “end of the day” on Wednesday.
Wisconsin :- Results should come in shortly after polls close at 21:00 EST for smaller counties. However, it often takes longer for major populations centres to tabulate votes, leading experts to predict that the state won’t have a result until at least Wednesday.
Arizona :- Initial results could come as early as 22:00 EST (03:00 GMT), however, they won’t paint a complete picture. The state’s largest county says not to expect results until early Wednesday morning. On top of that, postal ballots dropped off on election day could take up to 13 days to count, according to officials in Maricopa County, the largest district in the state.
Nevada :- Votes here could also take days to count, because the state allows mail-in ballots to qualify as long as they were sent on election day and arrive no later than 9 November.
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