As Americans head to the polls on Election Day, the nation faces a potentially historic and tight presidential race between Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and her Republican challenger, Donald Trump. Election officials are urging voters to be patient, as it could take several days to determine the winner of this closely watched contest.
In the United States, citizens do not vote directly for their president. Instead, they cast their ballots to elect 538 members of the Electoral College, which ultimately chooses the president and vice president based on each state’s popular vote. States with larger populations have more Electoral College votes, making the race for the crucial 270 votes even more competitive.
With over 81 million Americans voting early, the election is poised for a significant turnout. Polls begin closing at 6:00 PM Eastern Time, but experts warn that the counting process may take longer than usual. In the 2020 election, Joe Biden was declared the winner days after Election Day, a situation that could repeat itself this year due to various factors, including mail-in voting regulations and potential legal disputes.
While local election officials handle the counting of ballots, the methods can vary across different areas, adding another layer of complexity to the process. States like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have not permitted the early processing of mail-in ballots, which could further delay the final count.
The certification of results is a crucial step that follows the counting process. While media outlets may call races based on their projections, the official results must be certified at the state level. Each state has until December 11 to certify its results, and the electors from each state will cast their votes by December 25. Congress will then confirm the results on January 6, with the new president being inaugurated on January 20.
However, there are rising concerns about possible delays in certification. Reports indicate that a significant number of county election officials have previously delayed certification in key battleground states.
This trend has grown since the last election, raising the stakes for the current vote counting process, especially amid ongoing legal challenges from both political parties. The political environment surrounding certification has been heightened since Trump’s refusal to concede in 2020, leading to a wave of lawsuits and potential obstacles for election officials this year.
