On November 5, Americans will head to the polls to choose their next president. While election results are sometimes announced within hours, this year's tight race could mean a longer wait.

When Can We Expect the 2024 Presidential Result?

In past elections, the winner has sometimes been announced late on election night or early the following morning. However, this close race may prompt media outlets to delay projections. The contest is between Democrat Kamala Harris, the current vice-president, and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, who have been polling closely for weeks.

In addition to close margins, potential recounts could also extend the wait. For instance, Pennsylvania requires a statewide recount if the difference in votes is within half a percentage point. During the 2020 election, the margin in this key state was only slightly wider, at around 1.1%.

Legal battles may also delay the final outcome, with over 100 lawsuits filed by Republicans, many focused on issues like voter eligibility and roll management. Possible election-related disruptions, especially at polling sites, could add to any delay. However, vote-counting efficiency has improved in some areas, such as Michigan, and fewer mail-in ballots are expected this time compared to the pandemic-affected 2020 election.

When Were Previous Presidential Results Announced?

In 2020, the election took place on November 3, but major news networks didn’t call the race for Joe Biden until November 7, after Pennsylvania’s results became clearer. In 2016, Trump was declared the winner early on the day following the election, around 03:00 EST. Barack Obama’s victory in 2012 was projected by midnight on election night.

A notable exception was the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore, which involved a contentious recount in Florida. The election was held on November 7, but legal battles continued until December 12, when the Supreme Court halted the recount, confirming Bush’s win.

Key Swing States in 2024

The first polls close at 18:00 EST on November 5, and the last will close at 01:00 EST on November 6. This election is expected to hinge on seven swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Each state has its own reporting timelines and procedures that may affect when results become available. Here’s a look at what to expect in key states:

•Georgia: Polls close at 19:00 EST. Early and mail-in ballots will be processed first, followed by in-person votes. Officials estimate around 75% of votes will be counted within two hours, with final results possibly coming later that night.

•North Carolina: Polls close at 19:30 EST. While results are expected by the end of the night, areas affected by a recent hurricane may experience delays.

•Pennsylvania: Polls close at 20:00 EST. Since Pennsylvania doesn’t allow early counting, experts believe it could take at least 24 hours to have a definitive outcome.

•Michigan: Polls close at 21:00 EST. Although votes can be counted a week prior, the results won’t be revealed until polls close, with a complete tally anticipated by late Wednesday.

•Wisconsin: Smaller counties may report shortly after polls close at 21:00 EST, but large population centers are likely to take longer, with a full result expected by Wednesday.

•Arizona: Initial results may come as early as 22:00 EST, but Maricopa County—the state’s largest—expects to take additional time, with a possibility of delays due to late-counted postal ballots.

•Nevada: Mail-in ballots can be received until November 9, meaning a complete result could take several days.

How Does Vote Counting Work?

Typically, in-person votes cast on election day are tallied first, followed by early and mail-in ballots, any challenged votes, and finally, overseas and military ballots. Local election officials oversee a detailed process known as canvassing, verifying the ballots before they are counted.

Ballots are generally counted using electronic scanners, but manual counts or double-checked tallies may be required in specific cases. Each state has strict regulations for monitoring the canvassing and counting process, including allowing partisan observers to ensure transparency.

What If the Election Results Are Disputed?

Once all valid votes are counted, the election is decided by the electoral college. Each state has a set number of electoral votes, and winning these—not the popular vote alone—determines the presidency. Generally, a state awards all its electoral votes to the popular vote winner, confirmed after a meeting on December 17. The US Congress then convenes on January 6 to certify the electoral vote count and confirm the new president.

The 2020 election saw then-President Trump refuse to concede, leading to the January 6 Capitol riot as Congress met to certify Biden’s victory. Trump had pressured Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results, but Pence declined. Although Congress resumed its session after the riot, 147 Republicans voted to challenge Trump’s loss, albeit unsuccessfully.

Since then, electoral reforms have limited lawmakers’ ability to dispute certified results from individual states and clarified that the vice president cannot reject electoral votes unilaterally. Despite these changes, some election experts anticipate efforts to delay the 2024 vote certification at local and state levels.

Trump, along with running mate JD Vance and other top Republicans, has refrained from committing to accepting the election results if he loses, which could lead to further complications.

When Is the Presidential Inauguration?

The president-elect will be sworn into office on January 20, 2025, marking the 60th presidential inauguration in US history. Held at the US Capitol, the event includes the presidential oath and an inaugural address focused on the incoming administration’s vision and goals.

BOB Post