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US Presidential Election Process
The US Presidential Election process, from poll closing to the formal announcement of results, is a multi-stage process that can take several weeks.
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PoliticsUs PoliticsGovernmentVotingResultsUs Election
Edison ResearchAssociated PressCongress
Donald TrumpKamala HarrisMike Pence
- What time will polls close?
- Polls close at different times across the US, generally between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time, depending on the state. Some states may have earlier or later closing times.
- When is a result formalized?
- A result is formalized through a series of steps: states issue certificates of ascertainment by December 11, the Electoral College votes on December 17, these votes are sent to the Vice President by December 25, and Congress counts the votes and announces the winner on January 6.
- When will the results be announced?
- Results will be reported as polls close on the East Coast, with media outlets projecting winners state by state as they become confident in the results. Exit polls will play a key role in early reporting.
- Summarize the US Presidential Election process.
- The US Presidential election process is complex and involves multiple stages, from the closing of polls to the formal announcement of the winner by Congress, which can span several weeks.
- What happens when there is no winner on Election Day?
- If there's no winner on Election Day, it could take days or even weeks to determine a victor. Challenges to results could further delay the process. The lack of a central election authority contributes to this uncertainty.