Washington: As Election Day has approached in the U.S., the outcome of the 2024 presidential race could be known as early as Wednesday morning, just hours after the polls close on Tuesday. However, it could also take days or even weeks before the final result is determined, as seen in past elections.
By Monday morning, more than 78 million American voters had already cast their ballots, either in person or by mail, ahead of Election Day. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the two main candidates, have been campaigning hard, crisscrossing seven key battleground states with their closing remarks.
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A quick win in 2016, but a long wait in 2020
In 2016, the results came quickly. Voting ended on November 8, and by 2:30 a.m. on November 9, Donald Trump had won Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes, crossing the crucial 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called to congratulate him just five minutes later.
But in 2020, the wait was much longer. After polls closed on November 3, President Joe Biden didn’t secure Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes, and with them the presidency, until November 7. The longest wait in recent history occurred in 2000, when the country waited more than a month to find out who would be President. After voting ended on November 7, the result wasn’t decided until December 12, when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of George W. Bush.
How the electoral college works
In the U.S., the presidential election is not determined by the total national vote but by the Electoral College. To win, a candidate must secure at least 270 out of 538 electoral votes. Each state is assigned a number of electoral votes based on its population, which is the sum of its U.S. House of Representatives members and its two Senators. For example, smaller states like Wyoming have just three electoral votes, while larger states like California have 55.
Voting hours vary across states
The time when polls close varies across states, counties, and even cities. In some areas, polls may close at 8:00 pm, but anyone in line at that time will still be allowed to vote, even if it takes longer to finish. This can sometimes delay the reporting of results.
Early voting trends
Early voting has been robust in 2024, with over 55 million registered voters already casting their ballots ahead of Election Day. Voters have the option to vote early at polling stations or by mailing in their ballots, which can help speed up the process of counting votes once the official Election Day arrives.
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Published: 05 Nov 2024, 09:27 am IST
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