He Presidential Election Day is today, Tuesday, November 5.who faces Donald Trump Already Kamala Harriswhen will the results of the elections in the United States be known? The winner will be the candidate who obtains 270 electoral votes. We will have to wait for all voting centers to close. It is necessary to take into account the different schedules in each zone. There are: Eastern Time, Central Time, Mountain Time, Pacific Time, Alaska Time, and Hawaii Time. Undecided states, known in English as Swing States (Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and Michigan), because the rest of the states have a strong Republican or Democratic tradition. For example, California, with a strong Democratic tradition, closes polling stations at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time (5:00 a.m. Wednesday in Spain), with 54 electoral votes. Meanwhile, Texas, with a strong Republican tradition, shuts down the eastern part of the state at 8 p.m. Eastern time (2 a.m. Wednesday in Spain) and the western tip of the state. State, at 9 p.m. , Eastern Time (3 a.m. Wednesday in Spain).
How long does it take to know election results in the United States?
The process for find out the results of the elections in the United States It can be quick, but sometimes it takes several days or even weeks. Below we explain the different steps that can influence how long it takes Americans and the world to know the winner.
Preliminary results on election night
Typically, by election night, which falls on the first Tuesday in November, the preliminary results for most states are already known. When polls close, votes cast in person are tabulated and major media outlets make projections based on this initial data. In many elections, especially when the gap between candidates is large, these projections are often almost definitive.
The role of postal voting
However, the process can be prolonged when large numbers of votes are cast by mail, as happened in the 2020 election due to the pandemic. Some states allow mail-in ballots to arrive and be counted, as long as they are time-stamped, after Election Day. This can add days or even weeks of waiting to complete the total count, especially if the race is very close.
Official certification of results
Although preliminary results are reliable, each state has a formal process for certifying results, which typically occurs between late November and early December. This certification is the formal step to confirm the results.
The Electoral College: the final phase of a presidential election
In a presidential election, the process culminates with the Electoral College vote in December, where electors officially vote based on the results of their respective states. Congress ultimately certifies these votes in January, although this is more of a formality, since the winner is usually known much earlier.
In conclusion, preliminary results are usually known on election night, but the counting, verification and certification process may take longer, especially if the election is close or the volume of absentee ballots is high.
Arizona
Polling stations close: 9:00 p.m.Eastern Time (3 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). 11 electoral votes. Despite Republican leanings, Arizona went for Biden in the last election. This is the undecided state with the most favorable polls for Trump.
Arizona does not release election results until all precincts report or one hour after polls close. It’s usually 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). Shortly thereafter, counties are expected to release the results of absentee ballots received days before Election Day in the United States, which represents a significant portion of the total vote. The largest county in the state, Maricopaestimates it could take until 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time (11:00 Wednesday morning in Spain). Election officials estimate that It will take between 10 and 13 days counting all postal votes received.
Georgia
Polls close: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (1:00 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). 16 electoral votes. He surprised by voting for Joe Biden in 2020. This year, Trump is leading in the polls.
Recently passed laws have sped up the recount process in Georgia. Counties are now required to report early voting results by 8 p.m. Eastern Time (2 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). The Secretary of State’s office estimates the state will reach 90 percent of reports by 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time (4 a.m. Wednesday in Spain).
Michigan
Polls close: 8 p.m. in part of the state, Eastern Time (2 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time in the Upper Peninsula (3:00 a.m. in Spain). 15 electoral votes. One of the three states of Rust belt (rust belt). Part of the Democratic Blue Wall, Trump won this traditionally Democratic state in 2016. Most places in Michigan processed mail-in votes Monday. The results will be known at dawn.
Snowfall
Polls close: 10 p.m. Eastern time (4 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). 6 electoral votes. It was the undecided state that received the fewest electoral votes. The results will only be communicated when the last voter has voted.
Pennsylvania
Polls close: 8:00 p.m. Eastern time (2:00 a.m. Wednesday in Spain). 19 electoral votes. This is the most important undecided state. Larger counties will need at least two days to count all the votes. Many counties should be able to count all of their ballots by election night, but some larger counties may need to wait until Wednesday or Thursday.
Wisconsin
Polls close: 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (3:00 a.m. in Spain). 10 electoral votes. This is another state, traditionally Democratic, that Trump won in 2016 and that Joe Biden recovered in 2020. The first results will arrive shortly after the elections close. Historically, most votes have been counted at 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time (7:00 a.m. in Spain).
