
What to Expect for Election Night Results in the 2024 Presidential Election
As Election Day wraps up, everyone’s attention is on when and how results will come in. With nearly 2 million registered voters in San Diego County alone and a nationwide emphasis on secure and accurate counts, the flow of results will take time. Despite eager anticipation, the process involves multiple steps, so it’s useful to know what to expect.
Initial results often begin to appear shortly after polls close, around 8 p.m., but this first wave mainly includes early mail ballots and early in-person votes from the previous few weeks. These early ballots tend to be easier to tally, as they’re already pre-processed by election officials. These results, however, are just the beginning. The ballots cast on Election Day itself can only start being counted after all polling locations close, so there is always a bit of a delay as poll workers pack up and transport materials to counting centers.
One of the main reasons we won’t have a complete tally immediately is due to mail ballots. In states like California, mail ballots postmarked by Election Day can be received and counted for up to a week after. This means that while many ballots are counted on Election Day, a significant portion remains unprocessed. And these aren’t simply last-minute votes—they can be dropped off at official centers or mailed close to the deadline. The U.S. Postal Service continues delivering these for a few days, meaning results remain fluid until all valid mail ballots are in.
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Another factor is provisional ballots, which are issued to voters whose eligibility needs to be verified. For example, those who missed the registration deadline but are eligible to vote may register and cast a provisional ballot. These ballots require additional verification before they’re counted, adding further to the timeline.
In states like Tennessee and Georgia, earlier results are expected because many ballots are processed before Election Day, but even there, delays may occur if any issues need resolving. In contrast, states like Pennsylvania can’t start counting mail-in ballots until Election Day itself, meaning results take longer to finalize. Many state officials have encouraged patience and caution, emphasizing accuracy and transparency.
Nationally, we’re seeing a steady shift toward mail-in voting, which has extended the time needed to confidently project winners. Traditionally, media outlets project winners once exit polls and a margin of counted ballots make outcomes clear, but results remain unofficial until states complete certification processes that can last days or weeks.
Final certification deadlines, like the Dec. 5 deadline in San Diego County, reflect the need to ensure all legally cast ballots are accurately counted. In the meantime, election offices provide periodic updates as they process each group of ballots, with some counties even holding off on results during holidays to ensure staff have ample time to finalize counts.
While Election Day itself is a momentous occasion, counting every vote securely and accurately is the primary goal, even if it takes time. Whether you’re tracking results on the county registrar’s site or following news coverage, being informed about the process can help everyone stay grounded as the results come in.
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