When election results are released, it’s important to remember that they’re unofficial until certified by elections officials. There are a lot of steps that go into counting votes and certifying results, so it can take days or even weeks before final results are certified. The process varies between states.
Before and after the polls close on Election Day, voters voluntarily share their voting preferences with election officials through surveys called exit polls. The information collected from these polls can help news outlets predict how people will vote in a particular race. These predictions are based on a variety of data, including the percentages of early in-person and mail ballots that have already been counted, the number of voters expected at each polling location, and patterns from past elections.
Once the polls have closed, news outlets collect unofficial results in real time from local counting locations and sources like government websites. They track each race’s progress and may make a “call” when they’re confident enough in their analysis. Then, they keep reporting on each race as it becomes official.
After the initial count is complete, many races require a recount to verify the accuracy of the vote counts. This is a normal part of the process and can be time-consuming. Once the recount is finished, the results will be certified by an elected official, usually a state’s Secretary of State or Governor. The process varies between states and may include a review by a multi-member board or by a single elected official, depending on the contest being certified.
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