When will we know who the new president is?

After months of intensive campaigns and heightened anticipation, voters across Texas are casting their ballots to determine the next President of the United States and determine the outcome of the high-stakes race between Democrat Colin Allred and Republican incumbent Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas.

In 2020, a combination of factors took several days for the final vote count to be completed. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a record number of voters cast mail-in and absentee ballots, which slowed the counting process because these ballots take more time to verify and process than in-person votes.

When will we know the results of the national and local elections?

In Texas, polls close at 7 p.m. on Election Day, and the state’s efficient vote-counting processes allow early results for the election Allred-Cruz Senate race– as well as local proposals and municipal elections – are expected to be available within a few hours.

By law, Election Day totals must be submitted to the state within 24 hours of the close of voting Texas Tribune. Regardless of military, overseas or provisional ballots, all results must be adjudicated, counted or rejected by November 18, as outlined in the state’s election law calendar.

However, the timeline for the official presidential election results is less certain. In 2020, it took just four days for the official results.

When will we know the results for US President?

A large number of mail-in ballots, varying states’ counting procedures and close races in key battleground states could extend the time it takes to determine final results.

Some states have historically required additional time to count votes specific counting processes and large numbers of mail-in ballots. In many states, counting of ballots cannot begin until Election Day, while in others it can begin as early as 18 days, but the results could not be made public until after the polls closed.

For example, Pennsylvania — a crucial swing state — took several days to complete its tabulations in 2020 because state policy prevents officials from processing absentee ballots and mail-in ballots until Election Day.

In extremely close races, recounts and legal challenges can further delay the final outcome. Many states, including Texas, allow recounts if the margin between candidates falls within a certain threshold, and legal challenges are also possible, especially in high-stakes contests. These challenges may involve disputed ballots, procedural issues, or allegations of miscounting.

A notable example is the presidential battle between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush in 2000. USA TODAY reported. Issues such as flawed ballot design, “hanging chads,” accusations of miscounting, and lengthy court debates ultimately led the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a contentious 5-4 decision, the Court ruled that the Gore campaign had run out of time to propose new recount plans because of the “safe harbor” clause in the U.S. Code. This decision effectively ended the matter on December 12, exactly five weeks after Election Day, with Bush winning by a margin of just 537 votes.

In total, the 2000 elections lasted 35 days.the longest wait in modern history– to declare a winner, and it remains a controversial decision to this day.