# How long to get a result in the US Federal Election?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-to-get-a-result-in-the-us-federal-election/463707>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 15, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-to-get-a-result-in-the-us-federal-election/463707 "2008-09-15T15:10:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-to-get-a-result-in-the-us-federal-election/463707/41 "2008-09-16T21:45:03Z")

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> [@jtgain](#):
>
> I can’t see how we will be waiting for votes from the West Coast to make a difference. AK is going for McCain. HI and CA are going for Obama. While Oregon may be close, McCain would already be in huge trouble if he is waiting for it to go his way. Same way with Colorado; if Obama wins there, I can’t imagine him losing enough states back east to lose the election.
> 
> I think it comes down to FL, OH, PA, and MI. McCain must win two of those states to win, and Obama must win three. Maybe Obama steals VA and CO, and only needs two, but I can’t see it shaking out that way.
> 
> How late in the night will you have to stay up? It depends on how close it is. If you are talking about 1,000 votes in any of these states, it will be days or weeks before it is settled.

I have no idea how likely it is that it will turn out the way jtgain suggests. But it certainly **could** turn out that way – or any of a zillion other crazy ways.

My point is that jtgain’s post is a clear illustration of why it is so impossible to answer the OP. There are just too many variables. The only thing you can be fairly sure of is that none of the major organizations will be telling us the results of their exit polls until 6 PM EST. And even then, only of certain states. If those states go for the same candidate, they will call it sooner. If those states are split, they will call it later.

**Punintentional** , is there a specific reason why you’re trying to get this question answered without use of a time machine?

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