Election Night 2024: Will the Winner Be Declared on Time or Will It Take Days?

The 2024 US Presidential Election is looming on the horizon, and many are curious about the process of declaring the winner. Could the outcome be decided on election night, or might it become like the tumultuous weeks of result processing witnessed in 2020?

Current Polling and Early Voting Trends

Taking a closer look at the current state of affairs, the winner of the 2024 US Presidential Election is not yet certain. As of the latest data, Trump garnered 312 Electoral votes, while Harris claimed 226. However, Trump led in the popular vote by over 3 million.

Here’s a snapshot of the early voting and mail-in ballots that could significantly impact the final tally:

Eligible Voters: Over 161 million Americans are eligible to vote in the 2024 election. Early or Mail-In Ballots: Up to 75 million voters have already cast their ballots early or by mail in, leaving approximately 90 million votes to be counted.

Based on previous elections, we anticipate that we might know the winner by Friday. This is particularly significant given the substantial number of mail-in and early ballots, which can significantly delay the official declaration of results.

Previous Elections

The 2024 election builds on the precedents set by the 2016 and 2020 elections. In the 2020 election, the results were not officially finalized until well into the following week due to numerous factors, including mail-in ballot processing and closely contested states.

"The winner of the 2024 election was de-facto declared on November 8, 2016. Now we're just going through the motions."

These delays highlight the importance of understanding the complex process of counting and verifying mail-in and early ballots.

The Role of Mail-In Ballots

In recent years, an increasing proportion of American voters have opted for mail-in ballots, which has led to longer processing times and greater uncertainty on election night. This trend is expected to continue in 2024, potentially making the declaration of results a more drawn-out process.

"Days. Lots of elections take days, especially in states like Michigan where they can't even start to process mail in votes until Election Day."

States with strict regulations around postal voting and registrations, such as Michigan, are particularly susceptible to prolonged results. As a result, it is likely that the official declaration of the winner will not occur until more thorough and extensive counting has been conducted.

The Fabrication Myth

Despite rumors and conspiracy theories, there is no evidence to suggest that there is a practice of fabricating ballots. However, the extension of the result processing period can create an environment ripe for misinformation and disputes. It is crucial for both media and the public to remain vigilant and trust official channels.

"It will be just like the last one. It will take however long is necessary to fabricate enough ballots for the Democrat to win."

While the idea of fabricated ballots is alarming, the reality is more nuanced. Mail-in ballot processing can extend the time between election night and the official announcement, as seen in previous elections.

Conclusion

As we look forward to the 2024 US Presidential Election, the outcome is yet to be determined. Given the significant number of early and mail-in ballots, it is probable that the results will not be declared on election night. Instead, we might have to wait several days for a definitive conclusion.

Understanding the complexities of the electoral process is crucial for ensuring a fair and transparent outcome. By staying informed and trusting official channels, we can navigate the challenges of modern election cycles.