When Will We Know the Winner of the 2024 U.S. Election?


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With vote counting well underway across the United States, results are beginning to come in from various states. Some states have already been declared for either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, while others still have voters casting ballots. Key swing states like Georgia are in the spotlight, where rapid counting is underway following a record number of early votes.


Election results are announced on a state-by-state basis. The BBC provides live updates as the vote count progresses.


Expected Timing for the 2024 Election Results


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The first polling stations closed at 6 p.m. EST (11 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, and the last will close at 1 a.m. EST (6 a.m. GMT) on Wednesday. Historically, some presidential races have been resolved late on election night, while others extend into the following morning.


This year’s closely contested race in several states could delay media outlets in projecting a winner. However, some preliminary results are already coming from states known for their predictable voting patterns. For weeks, Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump have been locked in a tight race. Close results in certain states could also lead to recounts. For instance, in Pennsylvania, a recount would be triggered if the vote margin is within half a percentage point.


Legal Challenges and the Speed of Vote Counting


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Legal challenges are possible this year, with over 100 lawsuits already filed regarding voter eligibility and vote counts, mostly by Republicans. Nevertheless, the counting process is faster in several regions compared to the previous election, especially as fewer people voted by mail this year compared to the COVID-era election of 2020.


Swing States and Their Reporting Schedules



The results from swing states are expected to determine the outcome of the election. Early voting turnout has been high, breaking records in places like Georgia.

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Georgia: Polls closed at 7 p.m. EST. Most votes are expected to be counted within an hour after polls closed.


North Carolina: Polls closed shortly after Georgia, with results expected by the end of election night.


Pennsylvania: While polls closed at 8 p.m. EST, it may take up to 24 hours to gather enough results to declare a winner.


Michigan: Voting ended at 9 p.m. EST, and a result might not come until late Wednesday.


Wisconsin: Smaller counties may report results shortly after polls close, but a final result might not be ready until at least Wednesday.


Arizona: Early results could come by 10 p.m. EST, but the largest counties may not report until Wednesday morning. Mail ballots could take up to 13 days to count.


Nevada: Votes may take days to fully count as mail-in ballots postmarked by election day can arrive up to November 9.



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Why Early Voting Data May Not Predict Final Outcomes


In a close race, early voting results may not indicate the final winner. In 2020, Donald Trump led in certain states on election night but lost ground as mail-in ballots were counted. This year, with both Democrats and Republicans casting early votes in large numbers, the final count may shift from the initial data.


Timing of Presidential Election Results in Past Years



In 2020, it took four days to call the election due to tight margins and extended counting. By contrast, Donald Trump was declared the winner in 2016 just a few hours after polls closed. But the most protracted result came in 2000, with the Supreme Court resolving the contested Florida recount five weeks later.


How the U.S. Vote-Counting Process Works


Generally, votes cast on election day are counted first, followed by early and mail-in ballots, and finally ballots from overseas or the military. Election officials verify each ballot by comparing the number cast with the number of registered voters, inspecting ballots for any irregularities, and feeding them into scanners for tabulation.


The Electoral College Process


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The presidency isn’t determined by the popular vote alone; it relies on securing a majority of electoral college votes. Most states grant all their electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes in that state. On December 17, each state’s electors meet to finalize their votes, which Congress will count and confirm on January 6.


In 2020, challenges to the electoral results culminated in the January 6 Capitol riot, with Trump calling on then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results, which Pence declined to do. Since then, electoral reforms have made it more difficult for legislators to challenge certified results from states.


What if There’s a Tie?



In the rare event that both candidates receive an equal number of electoral votes (269 each), the House of Representatives would select the president, while the Senate would choose the vice president. This hasn’t occurred for over 200 years.

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Presidential Inauguration Date


The president-elect will be inaugurated on Monday, January 20, 2025, marking the 60th U.S. presidential inauguration. This ceremony will take place at the U.S. Capitol, where the new president will take an oath to uphold the Constitution and deli

ver an inaugural address, commencing their term in office.