The US Election Day is approaching, and voters will cast their ballots on November 5th to decide the leader of the United States for the next four years. However, the election results, which draw global attention, are unlikely to be announced on election day, and it is expected to take several days for results to be finalized. The closing times for voting vary across US states due to time zone differences, and results from the eastern swing states might be announced earlier than those from the western states. Nonetheless, the complex voting rules in the US make the situation even more complicated.
For example, laws in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin do not allow the counting of mail-in ballots before election day, so this has to be completed afterward. Additionally, the key state of Nevada allows the receipt of mail-in ballots as late as November 9th, which could significantly delay results if the race is close. As Grayson, the former president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, stated, "The counting methods in America's 50 states are different from each other," which could delay the announcement of results in a close race.
Experts suggest that if a candidate manages to gain an advantage in key eastern swing states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, the results may be apparent the next day. However, since the support rates in the current seven swing states are closely matched, counting might take several days to get precise results, similar to the 2020 election when the count in Pennsylvania was delayed until November 7th, determining Biden's victory, a scenario that could potentially recur.
Moreover, election-period lawsuits and potential recount requests might further delay counting. The Republican Party has raised concerns over voting fairness in several areas and has called for a manual count in Georgia, a proposal that, if passed, would significantly decrease counting efficiency. In Pennsylvania, an automatic recount occurs if the margin of victory is less than 0.5%.
According to surveys, around 46% of Republican voters might not accept a Democratic candidate's victory, with some extremist groups even threatening to take actions to interfere with the election results, adding uncertainty to the smooth transition of power in the United States. Against this backdrop, even if the election results are announced, they may face recounts or legal challenges.
