U.S. 2024 Election Results May Be Delayed: Here's Why

The 2024 U.S. presidential election, set for November 5, is expected to be a closely contested race. However, the final result may not be known immediately after the polls close, and it could take several days to determine the winner.

As ballots are counted, early results may show one candidate in the lead, only for that lead to shift as more votes are tallied. In previous elections, this pattern occurred due to the different ways votes are cast and counted. For instance, votes cast on Election Day are typically counted more quickly, while mail-in ballots, which are becoming increasingly popular, take longer to process. This dynamic may create early leads that shift once all votes are counted.

Mail-In Voting and Delays

Mail-in voting has become more widespread, especially in urban areas where votes take longer to count. Mail-in ballots, which tend to be favored by certain voters, take more time to process and count, which can lead to a delay in the final outcome. In the past, early leads from Election Day votes have shifted once mail-in ballots were added to the tally.

State-by-State Breakdown

• Arizona: Mail-in voting is highly popular, with nearly 90% of voters using this method. However, ballots dropped off on Election Day can't be processed until after polls close, causing potential delays.

• Georgia: Early in-person voting is common, but absentee ballots, which make up about 5% of the vote, are processed starting two weeks before Election Day. Military and overseas ballots are accepted up to three days after Election Day, which could impact close races.

• Michigan: Recent changes allow early processing of mail ballots, which should help report results more quickly than in past elections. In 2020, the state's results were delayed due to the time it took to process mail ballots.

• Nevada: While improvements have been made to speed up vote counting, Nevada's acceptance of late-arriving mail ballots could delay the final results, as these ballots tend to favor certain groups of voters.

• North Carolina: Early results will likely be based on mail-in ballots and early in-person votes. Election Day votes will be counted later in the evening, and the final results may take days or even weeks, especially in close races.

• Pennsylvania: Due to laws preventing the processing of mail ballots until Election Day, this state may again see delays in reporting final results. The early count will likely favor Election Day voters, but mail ballots will shift the outcome as they are processed.

• Wisconsin: Like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin doesn’t allow mail ballots to be processed until Election Day. In 2020, large batches of mail ballots were reported late, causing shifts in the vote count. This process is likely to repeat in 2024.

In conclusion, while early results will start coming in on Election Night, the final outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election may not be known for several days due to the time it takes to process and count mail-in ballots and other late-arriving votes.