DALLAS — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, across the U.S.
With a shot at the White House on the line, voters are watching this election closely. Many voters are wondering when their votes will be counted and when we will find out who won the election: Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
Here's a look at the process.
When will we find out who won the election?
In short, it's complicated.
In close elections, it's unlikely we will have a decisive winner the night of. Polls close at 7 p.m. in Texas on Election Day. According to The Texas Tribune, Election Day totals must be submitted within 24 hours of polls closing. All results must be counted or rejected by Nov. 18.
Here's a breakdown of the process in Texas:
- Polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5
- County election workers count ballots
- County election commissions report preliminary results to the Texas Secretary of State
For state and local races, results are often available within hours of polls closing. The presidential election is a bit different.
In 2020, it took four days for official results surrounding the U.S. presidential election, but there's no true timeline for how long it could take.
If you remember "knowing" who won before heading to bed on election night, it was likely because media outlets "called" the contest. While those estimates can give us a good idea of the outcome of the election, official results will not be considered until all ballots are counted.
With polls between Harris and Trump so close, it's likely we won't immediately know who won. Outside of Texas, there are 49 other states each with their own specific ballot-counting processes to consider.
Results could be further delayed by recounts and other legal challenges. Texas, among other states, can recount ballots if the number of votes between candidates falls below a certain threshold. The most notable example of a recount was in the 2000 election, where George W. Bush wasn't deemed the winner until five weeks after Election Day.
