Frequently Asked Questions about the Presidential Election
Election Night Results
How are election night results called? +
Generally, major television-broadcast and cable network (ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX), along with independnet media servies, the Associated Press, call presidential, congressional, and statewide election results. None of these network and services will “call” the presidential race until they have “called” enough states to give the winner the requisite 270 electoral votes. You may have those who unofficially call the election (e.g. blogger). The NYMg points out that iI’s possible that “official” and “unofficial” calls of the election will compete for attention, with the unwillingness of the “official” outlets to make pronouncements based on incomplete data perhaps undermining their authority.
Note for this year: You likely won't see final results for all races on election night. Increased use of mail-in ballots during the pandemic means final election results could take days (or even weeks) to tally.
When are election night results called? +
Some states plan to report results the night of Nov. 3, but others expect their counting process to take longer, depending on when they begin counting mail-in ballots. Nearly half of all states will accept ballots that arrive by mail during a certain window after Election Day if their postmark indicates they were sent by Nov. 3 or an earlier deadline. Roughly 30 states allow voters to fix errors that would have ead to their ballots being rejected; in states where this is permitted after Election Day, it could draw out the time before final results are announced.
Will we know the president by election night? +
It’s hard to say for both for the presidential and for down-ballot races. For some states, they may not have complete results for weeks. Early results in some key states can be a factor in which they may provide enough information to declare a winner. In addition, states that are allowed to count ballots before Election Day and have strong early in-person and mail voting could release a sizable proportion of the results after polls close.
With the pandemic, we are seeing a large increase in the number of mail-in ballots and these ballots are more likely to be counted later. The increase in mail voting could also lead to more provisional votes cast, increasing the number of ballots counted later. In many states, voters who have their eligibility to vote questioned at the polls may cast a provisional ballot, which is set aside and counted only when eligibility is later confirmed.
When does each state count their ballots? +
This will vary state by state. For example, state law in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin do not allow election officials to process or count ballots until Election Day. Michigan election workers can begin processing ballots a day in advance, but they can't be tabulated until Nov. 3.
When will the results become final? +
Every state has a different timetable for the canvassing a general election, which involves compiling returns, making sure every ballot is accounted for and certifying the results. The process usually takes place later in November and sometimes extends into December. States are supposed to appoint presidential electors by Dec. 8 — or at the latest, Dec. 14, when the electors meet in state capitals to cast their votes. Certificates of election from the states are counted by members of Congress on Jan. 6.
Why may we not get a result on election night? +
There are many reasons why we may not get the result right away (all which have been exacerbated because of the pandemic). A) Postal delay & different states have different rules over how and when they count them. B) Delays at polling station.
What happens if the election result is not accepted? +
President Trump said he believes the election result could end up in the US Supreme Court.
This has happened before. In the 2000 election, Democrat Al Gore claimed his narrow margin of defeat in Florida should lead to a recount.
It took 36 days and the Supreme Court to decide against a recount to settle the contest in favour of Republican George W Bush.
Various legal challenges could emerge this year - including everything from the identification requirements for postal voting, to the legality of Covid-related changes to voting."
How/why do networks call the result when only a certain percentage of votes have just been reported? +
Most major news networks make projections about election outcome before all votes are tallied. They rely on the same basic voting data to make calls and projections state-by-state. The patterns in that data may suggest clear winners long before all the votes have been counted. These networks use what are called “decision desks,” which employ dozens of statisticians and pollsters to project winners based on their analyses and the new organizations’ proprietary statistical models. Data are fueled by 3 main sources: 1) exit polls, 2) vote count by precinct, and 3) votes by county. Network will call an election when the projection shows a clear winner, even when all votes are not counted.
Are there automatic recounts? +
Not all states offer a recount process in the case of close elections. In some states, a defeated candidate’s only remedy is to contest the result of the election in court. Twenty-one states (22 in 2021, after New York's law becomes effective) and the District of Columbia provide for automatic recounts, which are conducted if the margin between the top two candidates is within certain parameters. In other states, a losing candidate or a voter may request a recount. There are certain thresholds for states with automatic recounts.
About the Electoral College
Why is there a electoral college? +
The Electoral College was created as a check and balance between the people and the vote for the president. The founders feared giving people too much power so they created a system that put a check on the people's vote by "men of virtue." Historically, the Electoral College has benefited certain regions over others. In the early days of the nation, the Constitution counted enslaved Americans as 3/5 of a person. This not only increased the number of people representing slaveholding southern states in the House of Representatives but it also helped tip the scales in presidential elections to southern states. Five of our first seven presidents came from southern, slaveholding states.
What is the role of the electoral college? +
Americans cast their vote for president. The tally of those votes—the popular vote—does not determine the winner. Instead, presidential elections use the Electoral College. To win the election, a candidate must receive a majority of electoral votes. In the event no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president.
Who are the electors? +
When people cast their vote, they are actually voting for a group of people called electors. In the electoral college system, each state gets a certain number of electors based on its representation in Congress.
How does the electoral college work? +
Each elector casts one vote following the general election, and the candidate who gets more than half (270) wins.
How many electoral college votes does the presidential candidate need to win the presidency? +
The total electoral vote is 540. The candidate who gets more than half (270) wins.
What happens if no candidate wins the majority of electoral votes? +
If no candidate receives the majority of electoral votes, the vote goes to the House of Representatives. House members choose the new president from among the top three candidates. The Senate elects the vice president from the remaining top two candidates.
This has only happened once. In 1824, the House of Representatives elected John Quincy Adams as president.
Can we change the electoral college? +
The Electoral College process is documented in the U.S. Constitution. It would take a constitutional amendment to change the process.
What is "bellweather" state? +
Places like Ohio and Missouri where voters have proven reliable at choosing the national winner
What is the difference between "projection" and "calling"? +
On election night, ballot counts will be used to predict - or project - the likely winner of each state and the nationwide vote. A state will not be "called", however, until enough data has been collected to declare a clear winner.
What is swing state or battleground state? +
These states lack a clear party affiliation, meaning they are up for grabs for both Democratic and Republican candidates. North Carolina and Colorado are examples of swing state.
