**As Election Day Nears, Experts Advocate for Patience in Result Awaiting**

With less than a week remaining until Election Day, millions of Americans are either mailing in their votes or lining up for early voting, anxious to learn the outcome of the presidential election as soon as possible. While numerous analysts foresee a quicker result compared to the 2020 election—potentially as soon as Wednesday morning—election professionals are warning against such high hopes, particularly amidst ongoing concerns regarding the reliability of ballot counting.

### The Tighter the Race, the Longer the Wait

“The public commonly anticipates election results to be available quickly, either on election night or soon thereafter, but historically, it has consistently taken days or even weeks to finalize official results,” stated Chris Mann, Director of Research at the [Center for Election Innovation and Research](https://electioninnovation.org/), a nonprofit that partners with election officials to enhance confidence in the electoral system. “To obtain official results, every single ballot must be counted precisely and carefully, and that requires time. Each state has its individual procedures.”

Mann underscores that no two elections are identical, and although significant enhancements have been made for the 2024 election—many of which were absent in 2020—this does not ensure immediate outcomes. He cited three main factors that affect how swiftly results can be declared: the proximity of the race, the technology utilized for counting, and the specific electoral policies set by each state.

Of these, Mann points out that close margins are the most pivotal element. In tightly contested races, more ballots need to be counted before media can confidently announce a winner, which contributed to the nearly five-day delay in 2020.

While surveys are already providing forecasts about the potential closeness of various races, experts warn that polls are not definitive forecasts. Rather, they strive to capture voter sentiment, which can change quickly. Narrow margins can further cloud these projections, necessitating more thorough ballot counting.

### Technological Investments Aid, But Have Boundaries

State-specific technology will be essential in establishing when a winner can be announced. Since 2020, numerous states have invested in quicker and more efficient ballot-counting machines. For instance, upgrades in states like [Wisconsin](https://www.fastcompany.com/91217760/when-will-we-know-results-2024-presidential-election-harris-trump) are expected to accelerate the counting procedure compared to the last election.

“A range of states, both swing and non-swing, have made technological investments,” remarked Mann. “This election is likely to be the most secure, transparent, and well-managed due to these enhancements. We will be able to count ballots more quickly than in almost any previous election.”

Nevertheless, even with advancements in technology, human oversight remains essential, which can both hasten and delay the process. The verification of ballots prior to counting is the most time-consuming aspect. Two state policies significantly influence this: pre-processing and the period for accepting ballots.

Pre-processing allows election officials to verify absentee and mail-in ballots before Election Day, expediting the counting process. A recent [report](https://electioninnovation.org/research/data-dive-pre-processing-mail-ballots/) from the Center for Election Innovation and Research noted that 43 states now permit some form of pre-processing. For example, Michigan and Nevada will engage in pre-processing for the first time in 2024, which should hasten their reporting. However, states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania do not allow pre-processing, which could result in longer times to finalize their results.

The second critical policy is the acceptance window for ballots. States like California, Oregon, and Washington accept ballots that are postmarked by Election Day, meaning some races may not be declared for weeks. Federal law also grants overseas and military voters the same flexibility, further lengthening the counting timeframe.

“Even with pre-processing, election officials cannot process ballots they have not yet received,” Mann clarified. “When a truckload of mail-in ballots arrives after Election Day, those ballots must still complete the entire verification procedure.”

### Early Voting and Monitoring

Early voting has evolved into a vital aspect of the election process. Independent organizations like [VoteHub](https://portal.votehub.com/) track absentee and mail-in voting requests and returns, providing valuable insights into early voting patterns.

### Election Security Stays Robust Despite Misinformation

Despite the various policies and technological advancements in place, the time taken to count ballots can create unease and pave the way for misinformation. From attacks on mail-in ballots to unfounded claims about election technology, voters should prepare for a surge of misleading partisan assertions on Election Day.

“One crucial aspect to be cautious of is how much misinformation is fueled by the outcomes,” Mann suggested. “These attacks are not principled critiques of the process but rather opportunistic ones that rely on the results.”

To counter misinformation, Mann advises voters to visit [Vote.gov](http