When are US election results typically announced? A look at past presidential races

Millions of Americans, along with international observers, may need to wait beyond election night to learn the outcome of the US presidential race.

Although Americans have become accustomed to news outlets projecting a winner by bedtime or early morning, final results are rarely completed on Election Day. This year, local and state deadlines for certification range from two days after 5 November to over a month.

The 2000 and 2020 presidential races saw the longest delays in the past 25 years. The 2000 election famously dragged on due to a razor-thin margin and ensuing legal battles, while a surge in mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic slowed the 2020 results. In 2024, state laws in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which bar early vote counting until Election Day, could also delay results.

Factors such as extended polling hours, a close race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, and ballot-counting regulations may impact the timing of results. However, officials emphasise that a delayed announcement does not indicate issues with the tabulation process.

Here’s a closer look at how quickly results emerged in the past six US presidential elections:

When were the 2020 results announced?

The 2020 election between President Joe Biden and Trump took place on 3 November, but news outlets did not declare Biden the winner until four days later, on 7 November.

How do news outlets call elections before every ballot is counted?

Outlets follow varied methods. The Associated Press, for instance, calls a race once “trailing candidates no longer have a path to victory,” using research and analysis to support its projections.

When were the 2016 results announced?

In 2016, the race between Hillary Clinton and Trump was called for Trump shortly before 3 a.m. EST on 9 November.

When were the 2012 results announced?

On Election Day 2012, former President Barack Obama’s re-election over Mitt Romney was projected before midnight on 6 November.

When were the 2008 results announced?

Barack Obama’s historic 2008 victory over John McCain was called around 11 p.m. EST on 4 November, shortly after the polls closed.

When were the 2004 results announced?

In 2004, John Kerry conceded to President George W. Bush via phone call just after 11 a.m. the day after the election, which was held on 2 November.

When were the 2000 results announced?

A notable outlier, the 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush was ultimately resolved five weeks after Election Day, on 12 December. The close race in Florida sparked debates, recounts, and legal battles. Gore requested a manual recount in Florida due to a narrow margin, which was later upheld by the Florida Supreme Court.

However, the Bush campaign contested this decision, and the US Supreme Court ultimately ruled 5-4 to halt further recounts, concluding that Gore’s campaign had run out of time for additional proposals. The decision, which remains controversial, gave Bush the state of Florida by 537 votes, securing his victory.