After Polls Close: How Votes Are Counted in the US

When polls close on election night, the first numbers shown on television are not the final results. Knowing how votes are counted helps people understand what is happening, especially when a race is very close.

Local election offices count the votes and send the totals to their state. The United States does not have one national office that runs all elections. News organisations collect the reported numbers and use them to estimate who has won.

When a news organisation or a service such as the Associated Press says a candidate has won, it means the available numbers show that the other candidate is very unlikely to catch up. This is called a projection. It is not an official result. If a race has not been called, it means there are still too many votes to count or the result is too close to predict safely.

Early results can also give a misleading picture. Some places count votes cast in person before counting mail ballots. Others report mail ballot results first. As more votes are counted, a candidate who was ahead may lose that lead, or a candidate who was behind may move ahead. This is a normal part of counting and does not, by itself, mean something is wrong.

When the difference between candidates is very small, a recount may take place. Some states require one when the margin is within a certain limit, while others allow candidates to request one under specific rules. Many states also carry out checks after the election to make sure the voting systems counted ballots correctly. The rules are different in each state.

Once the counting and any required checks are complete, local officials confirm their results. State officials then complete the certification process under state law. Certification makes the results official. The new US Congress is scheduled to begin its term on January 3, 2027.

People following election results should wait for reliable news organisations to explain when a race has been called. They should also remember that early totals are not always final and be careful about believing claims shared on social media without clear evidence.

TeaWithNews will report election projections only when they are linked to a credible source.