Waiting For Election Results Means the Process is Working

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By the time the polls close on Election Day, we're all anxious to receive results. News anchors analyze stats and make predictions. Social media users express their excitement or nervousness via memes. Bars and living rooms across the nation host watch parties where friends and family watch results come in while sharing their hopes and fears.

In that environment, it's normal to wish we could just figure out the results already. The reality is we have become accustomed to expecting things instantly, but voting results can function in a microwave society. The reality is that we're highly unlikely to know the results on election night - and that's a good sign. It means our system is working as it should to ensure all voters are heard.

Why Election Results Take Time

We're fortunate to have a fair, free, and reliable election process. That's because our system is built on checks and verifications - which can take time.

Every election, poll workers from both major parties work together to count, certify, and report ballots according to their state's unique rules. This generally involves both tabulating the votes themselves and verifying the identification information of each voter.

The Election's Over: Now What?

Some states can't start processing votes until Election Day, which makes the count take longer. This is especially true for mail-in ballots, which can be slow to process. That's especially true since nearly 80 million peoplevoted early.

Close elections may also lead to recounts. Some states launch automatic recount procedures when the results are within a certain percentage.

These checks are standard procedures and ensure that each vote is counted fairly. Thanks to these checks and efficient voting technology, our elections are more secure now than ever before.

How Long Will It Take?

The amount of time it takes to count each vote depends on many factors. As stated above, the closeness of the race and the number of mail-in ballots are just a few elements that can impact the process.

The time it's taken in recent years has varied widely. In 2012, media outlets called former President Obama's victory within the day. But in 2020, COVID and other complications delayed an official declaration of victory for four days.

However long it takes, it's important to rely on trusted resources for election results. Get the latest updates by looking up your state's information on VOTE411.org.

What To Do While You Wait

There's still plenty to do while you wait for results!

1. Ensure Your Vote Was Counted: If you voted by mail, go to VOTE411 and click your state to find a link to your state's ballot tracking tool. Use the tool to look up your ballot and verify that it was counted. If it wasn't, call your local election official.

   If you voted by casting a provisional ballot at your polling place due to a lack of ID, be sure to follow up with your local election official to provide the required ID and have your ballot counted.

2. Fight Mis- and Disinformation: Bad actors exploit the confusion and anxiety after elections to spread false information. Learn how to spot mis- and disinformation, and report any you find. Double-check anything sensational or out of the ordinary through trusted sources.
    
3. Thank Election Workers: Our democracy depends on election workers! Say thank you in person or on social media. Election Hero Day was on November 4, but we can continue to thank these courageous individuals long after that.
4. Get Involved in Your Community: The work to defend democracy continues! Reach out to a civic group like your local League to get involved in future work.

This is to say that when you live in the greatest democracy in the world, it takes time to determine the winner. As we all patiently wait for results, let's also take time to revel in the historic nature of this moment. At this time, we are the voters who have the ability to be the change we seek.

Happy Election Day!

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