The U.S. presidential election, set for November 5, has intensified as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump face off in what promises to be a close race. While votes will be tallied immediately after polls close, a conclusive result may take several days due to close margins and extended counting of mail-in ballots. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
Election Night Projections and the Role of Media
In the U.S., media outlets often project winners on Election Night or the following day based on available data. For a candidate to be declared the projected winner, they must secure at least 270 of the 538 electoral votes. Major networks and agencies like the Associated Press use internal surveys and real-time vote counts to “call” state results as polls close. However, the official count and certified results may take additional time.
The 2020 election highlighted the potential for delays. While the election was held on November 3, media called the race for Joe Biden only four days later after key results in Pennsylvania pushed him past 270 electoral votes. In some states, results shifted dramatically due to the timing of mail-in vote counts, which often leaned Democratic. This created an initial “red mirage” favoring Trump, followed by a “blue shift” for Biden as more votes were processed.
Polling Times and Voting Process in the U.S.
Voting times in the U.S. differ across six time zones. Polling first closes at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, while the last polls in states like Alaska close at 1 a.m. ET on November 6. Additionally, most states allow early in-person voting and mail-in voting, with millions of Americans casting ballots before Election Day.
Vote counting begins as soon as polls close, with state and local officials verifying and tabulating a combination of in-person, early, and mail-in votes. Results are certified by state officials once the count is complete. In some states, certification can take weeks, especially if the race is particularly close or if recounts are triggered.
The U.S. uses an Electoral College system, requiring 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Each state is allocated a set number of electors proportional to its population, with most states awarding all votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state. The formal casting of electoral votes occurs on the first Monday after December 12, with Congress meeting on January 6, 2025, to count and certify the results, marking the final step in the election process.
