From TIME · Connor Greene · · 2m
When midterm results will actually be known
Polls close across time zones through midnight, but official results could take 30 days as states count ballots in different ways.
In brief
Polls close across time zones through midnight, but official results could take 30 days as states count ballots in different ways. Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterms, but official results from all states could take up to 30 days to certify. Originally reported by TIME.
Democrats take back Congress
Democrats have been projected to take control of both chambers of Congress through a series of stunning victories on Tuesday night.
Key races called for Democrats
Many key races fell in favor of Democrats on Tuesday night, including wins in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, Iowa, and more.
Some races will take days
Other tighter contests could take multiple days, if not longer, to determine a winner as states count ballots in different ways.
States control the timeline
The U.S. Constitution empowers states to establish the times, places, and manners of holding elections and counting ballots.
Speed varies by state
Certain states like Florida have shorter count times. Others like California take longer due to size, and Alaska uses ranked-choice voting.
Certification takes 30 days
It could take up to 30 days before all states certify their results. Official results from states differ from media outlet projections.
“It's really important for everyone to understand that what happens on election night when we're watching TV or looking online, and we're seeing races called, those are predictions by media outlets. They're not the official results.”
Polls close across time zones
Most polls close around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. local time. Because the U.S. spans several time zones, closures spread over several hours.
Earliest and latest closures
Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia close at 7 p.m. EST. Alaska closes at 1 a.m. EST, the latest.
Multiple ballot types to count
States must verify and count ballots cast in person during early voting, on Election Day, mail-in ballots, and provisional ballots.
Provisional ballots add delays
Provisional ballots allow people to vote who fail to meet eligibility requirements. Confirming them, called curing, adds time to tallying.
Mail ballots extend deadlines
Fourteen states and Washington D.C. allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received during a set post-election window.
Ranked-choice voting slows counts
Alaska and Maine use ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates. If no candidate has a majority, ballots are recounted multiple times.
Delays are not fraud
Not knowing official results days or weeks after Election Day is completely standard and not evidence of fraud, which research shows is extraordinarily rare.
“The thing that I would hammer home is not knowing an official result the day of the election, the day after the election, even a week after the election, is not evidence of fraud.”
In short
Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterms, but official results from all states could take up to 30 days to certify.
