As American voters gear up for their presidential election on Tuesday, the stakes have never been higher. The tight race between Democratic incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris and former Republican President Donald Trump has set the stage for a potentially prolonged vote-counting process, raising questions about when a winner will be declared.
Historically, U.S. election results can be announced within hours after polls close. However, this year’s nail-biting competition in several states may lead to extended waiting periods.
Experts predict that narrow victories could necessitate recounts, particularly in key swing states like Pennsylvania, where a recount is triggered if the vote margin is less than 0.5%. In 2020, the winning margin was just over 1.1%.
Legal challenges are also on the horizon, with over 100 pre-election lawsuits filed by Republicans concerning voter eligibility and management of voter rolls. Moreover, potential disruptions at polling locations could further delay results.
While some regions enhance their vote-counting efficiency—like Michigan, which has streamlined processes compared to the previous election—far fewer ballots are expected to be cast by mail this time around.
The outcome of the election hinges heavily on results from seven pivotal swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Georgia closes its polls at 19:00 EST, with an expectation that about 75% of votes will be counted within two hours.
North Carolina follows suit at 19:30 EST, although complications from a recent hurricane may affect reporting times.
In Pennsylvania, voting concludes at 20:00 EST, but counting restrictions mean results may not emerge for at least 24 hours.
Michigan’s polls close at 21:00 EST, with results anticipated by Wednesday afternoon due to pre-election counting rules.
In Wisconsin, while smaller counties may report soon after polls close, larger areas often take longer to finalize counts.
Early results from Arizona could surface by 22:00 EST, yet the full picture may remain unclear until early Wednesday morning.
Finally, in Nevada, mail-in ballots arriving post-election day can prolong final counts due to state regulations.
Once all valid votes are counted, the electoral college process begins. Each state awards electoral votes based on popular vote outcomes. This year’s election could face scrutiny similar to past elections; however, reforms implemented since 2020 aim to streamline the certification process and reduce objections to certified results.
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