As Americans head to the polls, the final result of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could be revealed as early as Wednesday morning, just hours after voting ends on Tuesday. However, as with previous elections, the announcement may take days or even weeks, depending on the time required to count all ballots accurately.

By Monday morning, over 78 million Americans had already voted, either in person or by mail, before Election Day. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the main contenders, have intensified their campaigns, traveling across seven critical swing states to connect with voters and make final appeals.

A Look at Past Elections

In 2016, results came relatively quickly. Voting ended on November 8, and by 2:30 a.m. on November 9, Donald Trump had secured Wisconsin and surpassed the crucial 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Just minutes later, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called to concede.

The 2020 election, however, required a longer wait. After polls closed on November 3, President Joe Biden didn’t secure the critical 19 electoral votes from Pennsylvania until November 7. The longest delay in recent history occurred in 2000 when the final result wasn’t known until more than a month after voting concluded. That year, the Supreme Court’s ruling on December 12 confirmed George W. Bush’s victory.

The Role of the Electoral College

The U.S. presidential election is decided not by the national popular vote but by the Electoral College. To win, a candidate needs at least 270 of the 538 available electoral votes. Each state has a designated number of electoral votes based on its population, calculated from its U.S. House of Representatives seats plus its two Senators. This allocation varies widely; for instance, Wyoming holds just three electoral votes, while California has 55.

Voting Hours and Delays

Voting hours differ by state and even by city. In some locations, polls close as early as 8:00 p.m., but anyone in line by that time is still allowed to cast their ballot, which may extend the time required to finalize results in those areas.

Early voting has been strong this election, with more than 55 million registered voters casting their ballots before Election Day. This includes options for early in-person voting or mailing in ballots, which can help ease the workload on Election Day and may expedite the final count.

Thailand’s Baby Hippo, Moo Deng, Goes Viral After “Predicting” Donald Trump’s 2024 U.S. Election Win

US Election 2024 Live Updates: Tight Race as Polls Open Amid Heightened Security

FAQs on US Polls : About Dates, Key States, and What to Expect on Election