American voters will vote on Tuesday, November 5, to elect their next president, after a grueling campaign season, and neck-to-neck projections.
In the election starring Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, more than 77 million voters have cast their votes in early voting to choose their preferred candidate.
Apart from the two front-runners, there are four other independent and third party candidates, including Cornel West, Jill Stein, Chase Oliver, and Claudia De La Cruz.
How does the US elections count work?
On Election Day, eligible American voters cast ballots either in-person or via mail, voting for a “slate” of electors who have pledged to vote for a particular candidate in the Electoral College.
The system operates on both state and federal levels, with each state setting its own specific procedures for counting votes, including deadlines for receiving mail-in ballots and provisional ballots.
Each state counts its ballots and then awards its electoral votes—each state’s number is proportional to its population. A candidate needs at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win the presidency. The vote count process is overseen by local election officials who tally the ballots, verify their authenticity, and ensure everything is above board.
However, other states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, only start processing these ballots after the polls close, which can extend the count. The process is thorough but can take several days or even weeks, depending on the number of ballots and the specific counting rules in each state.
When will the US Presidential election results be announced?
Election officials start vote counting immediately voting ends in each state, and the winner of the popular vote is declared when the vote counting ends. As such, one state may declare the projected winner as other states continue their count.
Based on previous elections, Americans can expect to know who the next US President will be at the end of the election night, November 5, or on the morning of Wednesday. Most states have a predictable voting pattern, and these states often announce their results earlier.
However, counting in states considered “swing” states can take longer, and they may delay the final announcement of the popular vote of the projected winner.
Keep in mind that the official US President Results are only announced after the electoral votes are counted. A candidate needs a minimum of 270 Electoral College votes out of 538 electors to be declared President-Elect.
In the previous elections, there have been elections when a presidential candidate lost the popular vote, but still won the Electoral College votes, and was declared President-Elect.
How long is the vote count?
Generally, early results begin to roll in on election night, and many states can have a good portion of their votes counted by midnight.
However, a definitive count can take much longer, especially in tight races where every ballot is critical. States that process mail-in ballots earlier, like Florida, are typically faster in reporting results.
Others, such as California, allow mail-in ballots to arrive several days post-Election Day, so they often take longer to finalize their counts. In recent elections, the rise in mail-in and absentee voting has contributed to delays.
During the 2020 election, for instance, record numbers of Americans voted by mail due to COVID-19 concerns, which stretched the count in several key states. As a result, final results in those states weren’t certified until days or weeks later.
States aim to finish counting within a week or two, but certification deadlines vary, with the Electoral College meeting to formally cast votes in mid-December.
When have previous election results been announced?
Election night results aren’t official, but they’re often the first indication of who’s likely to win.
Historically, some presidential races have been called within hours of the polls closing, especially when one candidate has a clear lead. For example, in 2012, the race was called for President Obama by around 11 p.m. EST.
However, there have been notable exceptions where results took much longer. In 2000, the election between George W. Bush and Al Gore was so close that the results hinged on a recount in Florida. This delay stretched the process until December, when the Supreme Court ultimately halted the recount and declared Bush the winner.
In more recent elections, high numbers of mail-in votes and close races in battleground states have delayed results.
The 2020 election, with increased mail-in voting due to the pandemic, saw results delayed by several days in key states like Pennsylvania and Nevada.
Media networks and election officials are typically careful to avoid calling a race until the results are clear, though that process can be extended if any disputes or recounts are required.
Key States to Watch
In every presidential election, certain states stand out as “battleground” or “swing” states. These are states where the vote could realistically go to either the Democratic or Republican candidate, making them crucial to securing the necessary electoral votes.
Historically, states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have been among the most important to watch due to their significant electoral votes and close party splits. Winning these states can often signal the path to victory for a candidate, as they have enough electoral votes to tilt the scale.
In recent years, states like Georgia, Arizona, and Michigan have also become more competitive, drawing public attention. These states have swung in different directions in the past elections, which keeps campaigns focused on them as key targets.
States with close voting histories and large urban populations can experience extended counts, especially where there are high numbers of mail-in ballots.
What could delay US presidential election announcement?
High numbers of mail-in ballots take longer to verify and count, and in some states, they aren’t even allowed to be processed until Election Day or shortly before. States like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have this rule, which can add significant time to the process.
In very tight races, both parties may request recounts, or they may dispute the validity of certain ballots, especially in key states. This happened in the 2000 election when the outcome hinged on the Florida recount, ultimately decided by the Supreme Court.
Finally, close races in swing states can keep everyone waiting. When results are within a narrow margin, news outlets and election officials tend to hold off on announcing a winner until more votes are counted to avoid premature calls. This cautious approach can extend the waiting period, especially in years where the balance between candidates is razor-thin.
When will the President-Elect be inaugurated?
Based on the provisions of the US constitution, the person who will be elected President of the United States of America will be inaugurated on Monday, 20 January 2024, at the US Capitol complex.
The president elect will be the 47th President of the US, and the inauguration ceremony will be the 60th presidential inauguration in US history. At the inauguration, the new president will be sworn in, and deliver their inaugural address in front of millions of Americans.