As we approach another highly anticipated presidential election, one thing is clear: election night itself is no longer the grand spectacle of quick results that many remember from previous decades.
Today’s election process, especially in a close race, is likely to stretch far beyond that single night. Thanks to shifts in how Americans vote and how votes are counted, combined with an environment ripe for legal challenges if former President Donald Trump loses, the nation may need to brace itself for a long wait before a winner is officially declared.
Here’s why patience and preparedness are essential in the modern electoral landscape.
The Complex Vote-Counting Process
Election night has always carried the allure of suspense. For decades, Americans have stayed up late into the night watching electoral maps light up in red and blue, as anchors speculated on the outcome. The expectation of a same-night result is deeply ingrained in our culture and mindset, but in recent years, this has become an increasingly unrealistic standard.
The biggest factor in the delayed results is the sheer complexity of today’s voting methods. The 2020 election saw record numbers of mail-in and absentee ballots due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this trend has not fully subsided. Millions of voters continue to use these methods for convenience, safety, and flexibility.
While in-person votes are typically counted right away, mail-in ballots often take longer due to the extra steps involved, such as signature verification and ensuring compliance with local voting laws. In many states, these ballots can continue to be counted even after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked by that date.
https://www.newsweek.com/were-unlikely-know-winner-election-night-thats-ok-opinion-1971418