The much-anticipated day of the United States election has arrived, with Vice President Kamala Harris representing the Democrats and former President Donald Trump leading the Republicans. Both candidates are neck and neck in the polls, creating a nerve-wracking atmosphere as the nation waits for the results. Predicting when the winner will be announced is challenging, but American media outlets are focusing on the closing times of polling stations in key battleground states. Despite this, it is generally expected that the vote count might extend over some time. A new law mandates that a winner must be declared by December 11.
Crucial States and Their Timelines
In North Carolina, a pivotal state in the election, polls are scheduled to close at 7:30 PM. Initial results are anticipated between 8:00 and 9:30 PM, but it's unlikely that the final tally will be available on election night. Provisional ballots are expected to be counted later, as reported by CNN Español.
Georgia, another significant state, is expected to reveal its results on the same night after polling stations close at 7:00 PM. On the other hand, Pennsylvania's polling places will close at 8:00 PM, but the counting process may extend over several days. This scenario is often repeated in Arizona, where polls close at 9:00 PM on Tuesday.
In Michigan, results are typically available 24 hours post-election, so they are expected by Wednesday evening following poll closures between 8:00 and 9:00 PM. Wisconsin's polls also close at 9:00 PM, but some city results might not be available until Wednesday morning.
Finally, Nevada will keep polls open until 10:00 PM, but the state will continue accepting ballots until November 9. The uncertainty in these key states makes it difficult to predict a definitive winner.
Historical Context and Potential Challenges
Reflecting on past elections, in 2020, the media, including CNN, could not call the election for Biden until four days post-election. His win was eventually secured with the announcement of results in Pennsylvania, giving him 20 electoral votes to surpass the 270 vote threshold for the presidency. In contrast, in 2016, Hillary Clinton conceded the election the day after voting. However, the 2000 election saw Florida's results delayed by 36 days.
There is a possibility that if Trump loses, he might contest the election results. In 2020, he claimed fraud and has reiterated these allegations throughout the current campaign.