Be wary of candidates claiming victory too soon. Voters may be eager to hear presidential election results as soon as possible but, according to election experts, a count is rarely official the day votes are cast, since the process for validating, processing, and counting every single ballot takes time.
Media outlets — and candidates — may call an election early, based on projected figures and the size of the margin between the candidates in various battleground states. But that doesn’t mean every vote has been tabulated yet, especially in states that don’t allow mail-in, absentee, or early-cast ballots to be processed before election day. Be careful to validate the sources of any official calls that may circulate online. Learn how election winners are called by reputable organizations, like the Associated Press.
Individuals are encouraged to follow the election bodies in key battleground states for the most accurate information and official counts: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, …