The outcome of Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election between Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris may remain undecided for more than 24 hours, with a final result unlikely by Wednesday, according to U.S. media. Tight races across seven swing states are expected to extend vote counting, as a clear margin of victory would be necessary for any early projections.
According to NBC, the days of determining a winner on election night are over, and a Wednesday announcement would require battleground states, like Pennsylvania, to show a decisive lead. The network referenced the narrow 2020 wins in Georgia and Arizona, where Joe Biden’s victories were by margins of fewer than 12,000 votes.
This year, all ballots may need to be counted to confidently project a winner, which could take days. With polls tightening in both national and swing state races, recounts may be triggered in some areas due to anticipated close margins, the BBC reported.
Certain procedural changes since 2020 may further delay results, though states like Michigan are expected to report faster than before due to reduced mail-in ballots. While some states can report preliminary results minutes after polls close, differences in polling hours and time zones add complexity. For instance, Kentucky and Indiana counties in the Eastern Time Zone can begin reporting while Central Time Zone voters are still voting. Some states like Alabama and Alaska wait until all counties finish voting before releasing results.
If trends from 2020 hold, the final outcome could be days away. The Associated Press didn’t declare Joe Biden’s win until the Saturday after the election, and this year’s close polling may prolong the process. High voter turnout, especially through absentee and provisional ballots, may also add pressure to counting systems, a challenge seen in 2020 when 70% of voters cast early ballots.
On Sunday, Trump claimed he is “substantially ahead” and predicted a Tuesday night outcome, while early voting data from the University of Florida Election Lab shows over 78 million Americans have already voted, with a slight Democratic advantage. The seven key battleground states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—have received particular attention from both candidates, as each could prove decisive in determining the next president.
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