As Americans prepare to vote in the November 5, 2024, presidential election, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are making last-minute appeals in key swing states where the outcome will be decided. Voting will wrap up on Tuesday evening, with polling stations closing between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM Eastern Time (00:00-05:00 GMT), depending on the state.
Initial results from early vote counts are expected shortly after the first polls close at 7:00 PM ET. However, due to tight polling in several swing states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, and Arizona, the outcome may not be clear until well after Election Day. Swing states with varying rules for processing mail ballots and vote-counting protocols may take days to finalize their results.
In states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where mail ballots cannot be processed until Election Day, delays are likely. However, faster counting is expected in states like Michigan, which now allows early ballot processing, and Nevada, which has streamlined its election laws to reduce the waiting time for results.
A total of 270 Electoral College votes is required to win, and with Harris leading by a narrow 1.2 points nationally, the margin in several swing states could be razor-thin, raising the possibility of recounts and even legal challenges if the result is contested.
Analysts and experts, including Raymond J. La Raja of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, suggest that in a very tight race, results may not be available for days. “It’s so close that a candidate might not concede, so get ready for a long night—or even several days,” he commented.
If neither candidate secures the necessary electoral votes, a 269-269 tie would trigger a “contingent election,” where the US House of Representatives elects the president, an outcome seen only three times in American history.
As vote-counting unfolds, historical precedents and recent reforms aim to prevent disorder and ensure a secure certification of results. The new president will be inaugurated on January 20, 2025, at the US Capitol, marking the 60th inauguration in US history.
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