U.S. Election Night 2024: What to Expect as States Report and When Will We Know Results

As the U.S. gears up for election night, each state’s approach to vote counting and reporting varies, influenced by local laws, voting patterns, and logistical challenges. Here’s a closer look at how vote counting and reporting are expected to unfold across key states, including anticipated reporting times, races to watch, and the role of absentee ballots.

Election Night Reporting: Accuracy Over Speed

Election-night reporting often includes initial vote counts from early and absentee ballots, but not all states process votes at the same pace. Many states, especially those with significant numbers of mail-in ballots, may experience delays in reporting complete results. Human error in reporting early, unofficial counts occasionally occurs, but these errors are typically corrected before results are certified.

State-by-State Breakdown

Arkansas

• Polls Close: 8:30 p.m. Eastern
• Timing: Arkansas releases its early and absentee votes soon after polls close and traditionally finalizes nearly all votes on election night.
• Notable Races: None
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 98%

California

• Polls Close: 11 p.m. Eastern
• Timing: Initial results come in shortly after polls close, but half of the votes typically aren’t reported on election night due to the state’s widespread mail-in voting. Ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted even if received as late as November 12.
• Notable Races: Close contests in CA-03, CA-09, CA-22, and others
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 50%

Colorado

• Polls Close: 9 p.m. Eastern
• Timing: By 10 p.m. Eastern, counties report the first batch of results, covering 60-70% of ballots. Full results could take several days due to a high volume of ballot measures this year.
• Notable Races: President (Likely D), CO-03, CO-08
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 78%

Connecticut

• Polls Close: 8 p.m. Eastern
• Timing: Most votes are counted on election night, though large cities may take until Wednesday for absentee ballots.
• Notable Races: CT-05 (Likely D)
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 93%

Florida

• Polls Close: 7 p.m. Eastern in most of the state, 8 p.m. Eastern in the Panhandle
• Timing: Florida is one of the fastest-counting states, with early and absentee ballots reported within 30 minutes of polls closing. Remaining votes are updated in 45-minute intervals.
• Notable Races: President (Likely R), Senate (Likely R), FL-13, FL-27
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 100%

Georgia

• Polls Close: 7 p.m. Eastern
• Timing: New laws require early and absentee votes to be reported by 8 p.m. Eastern, with most counties hitting 90% reporting by 10:30 p.m. Eastern.
• Notable Races: President (Lean R)
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 100%

Texas

• Polls Close: 8 p.m. Eastern, 9 p.m. Eastern in the western tip
• Timing: Known for its swift reporting, Texas will release early and mail-in ballots after polls close, followed by Election Day votes.
• Notable Races: President (Likely R), Senate (Likely R), TX-15, TX-28
• Reporting Rate After 24 Hours (2022): 99%

Key Battlegrounds and High-Stakes Races

In several states, highly competitive races could impact the final balance of power. In Pennsylvania, delays are expected due to the prohibition of processing mail-in ballots before Election Day. Wisconsin may also see late reporting as absentee ballots are counted centrally and only after all ballots are processed.

Mail-In Ballots and Absentee Voting

The prevalence of mail-in voting continues to influence the speed of result announcements. States like California and Washington allow mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received days later, while others, like Vermont, count only ballots received by Election Day.

Conclusion: Patience is Key

The final vote count in several states may not be available until days, or even weeks, after Election Day. As the U.S. electorate awaits outcomes in races across the nation, election officials emphasize the importance of accuracy over speed, with safeguards in place to ensure certified results accurately reflect voters' intentions.