Election results shape our future — from whether Americans have access to affordable health care and the role of law enforcement in their communities, to the quality of the air and water they breathe, the way they raise their children and how they engage with one another. Often, decisions are decided by just a few votes.
Amid a time of high voter turnout, many voters want to see election results as quickly as possible. This is why it’s important to understand that the percentages reported in news outlets are unofficial estimates and only a portion of the ballots have been counted. In reality, the official results are not available until days or even weeks after Election Day.
The following information is intended to provide voters with a better understanding of how and when election results are reported and certified.
Counting Ballots
The process that begins before, during and after Election Day to ensure all eligible ballots are counted. This includes counting early in-person and absentee ballots.
Reporting Results
News outlets collect information about ballots cast from various sources and then use this data to make projections about the outcome of each race. Each news outlet uses different assumptions and calculations, so the predictions they produce are not identical.
Only when nearly all ballots have been counted can a race be called. This can take a long time if the races are close, as in this year’s election. Voters can get a sense of the final results through online tools like the ones listed below and through television and radio coverage.
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