To the dismay of many, it’s unlikely that the United States will know the outcome of the Presidential Election by the end of tonight. JMU political science professor Marty Cohen explained the key factors that will influence how long it takes to determine a winner.
Cohen stated that the closeness of the race will be the biggest determinant. In particular, if the contest is tight in critical swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada, the final outcome could take longer to be established. Another delay factor is that Pennsylvania, a key battleground, does not start counting early and mail-in ballots until Election Day. Taking these circumstances into account, Cohen suggested that it could be until the weekend before a presidential winner is determined.
In 2020, it wasn’t until Saturday afternoon that the official win of Joe Biden was announced. Cohen notes “This year could be just as close, if not closer. It could easily stretch into the weekend unless there’s a decisive outcome one way or the other. If it does break more decisively, we might know in one or two days.”
As we wait for votes to be counted and official results to roll in, remember to validate your sources and stay updated with accurate election information!
SOURCE: WHSV