US Election: Focus on Delays, Recounts, and Election Integrity Issues as Americans Head to the Polls
As Americans prepare to vote on Tuesday, the tight race between Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump may mean waiting longer than usual to know the election results. In previous years, networks have declared winners within hours of polls closing, but this year could present new delays as media outlets need to make early projections.
The first polls close at 6 p.m. EST (11 p.m. GMT), with the last closing at 1 a.m. EST Wednesday. While past races have seen winners called by the early morning hours, the closely contested swing states could lead to a more cautious approach by media analysts before declaring the next president.
Narrow margins could also trigger recounts. For example, in Pennsylvania, a recount is automatically required if the difference between the candidates is less than half a percentage point—a likely scenario in this razor-thin race. Recounts have been essential in recent elections to ensure accuracy, such as the Pennsylvania recount in 2020, which ultimately confirmed Joe Biden’s victory there. 
Legal challenges could add another layer of complexity, as over 100 pre-election lawsuits have already been filed, primarily by Republicans, addressing voter eligibility and role management. In the event of close outcomes, post-election lawsuits could emerge, challenging results at the state and local levels. While many election security measures have been updated since 2020, potential disputes around voter rolls and mail-in ballots are closely monitored.
US Election
Vote counting may progress faster in some areas. For instance, in Michigan, election officials have streamlined their process compared to 2020, and fewer mail-in ballots are expected since the election is no longer affected by pandemic-related concerns. However, specific states, like Nevada and Arizona, will still take days to finish counting, especially if they receive many mail-in ballots postmarked on election day.
Swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania will be pivotal. Georgia’s election officials, for instance, estimate that 75% of votes could be counted within the first two hours after polls close. North Carolina expects results before midnight, while Pennsylvania’s count could take over a day due to its stringent recount thresholds. These states, alongside Michigan and Wisconsin, are poised to shape the outcome, meaning that results from just a few counties could determine the national result.
Historically, US election nights have sometimes stretched into multi-day or multi-week counting processes. In 2020, it took four days for networks to confirm Biden’s victory, while the 2000 election between George W. Bush and Al Gore took over a month, requiring intervention from the US Supreme Court. With the potential for close outcomes and legal battles, the 2024 US election could mirror these historic precedents.
If neither candidate reaches the 270 electoral votes required to win, a rarely used contingency could occur a “contingent election,” in which the House of Representatives would vote for the president and the Senate for the vice president. Though extremely rare, this possibility underscores how this election’s outcome could hinge on complex and rarely invoked rules.
Once every vote is counted and certified, the winning candidate will take office on January 20, 2025, after the official inauguration ceremony at the US Capitol, a symbol of continuity amid a contentious political climate. However, given the heightened legal scrutiny and potential recounts, the weeks following Election Day may be just as politically significant as the vote itself, as the nation braces for a possibly prolonged process to verify and confirm the next president.
