Election results are the official voting results of an election. This includes the votes cast by eligible voters who go to polling locations on Election Day as well as ballots received through mailed-in or early in-person voting.
Before results are certified, the public sees unofficial data about votes being counted across the country. This data is collected by reporters and then entered into their vote reporting systems and compared to each other, leading to predictions of a winner (often called a “call”).
News outlets will only report full results after all ballots are counted–which can take days or weeks after the initial call, depending on how many votes are expected to be counted. These full results are checked against the prediction and may change the original call of a winner.
Depending on state law, there may be a recount after the canvass, which examines all the ballots to make sure they are counted correctly and that no clerical errors have occurred. Recount rules differ from state to state, and there are often caps for how close a race must be for a candidate to have a chance of requesting a recount.
It’s important for everyone to have accurate information about the process of counting votes, so that they can understand the differences in how elections are run from state to state. This helps ensure that all voters’ voices are heard and that the electoral system remains fair. In the past, even in times of crisis and extraordinary pressure, elected officials have resisted attempts to subvert our democracy. However, a government that is openly threatening to prosecute election officials could encourage them to take less principled stands in the future.