# Poll - when will we know election results? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 2, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553 "2020-11-02T15:02:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/1 "2020-11-02T15:02:42Z")
Just 2 simple questions - when will we have reliable results for: A. Who won the US Presidency? B. Which party controls the Senate? Please answer hour and date for each of A and B. I’ll go first: A. Wed 11/4 8 a.m. B. Fri 11/6 10 a.m. No need to debate in this thread what we consider “reliable results.” Eastern time zone. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/2 "2020-11-02T16:19:43Z")
Both are guesses: A. Tues 11:30 PM ET B. Wed 7 PM ET ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/3 "2020-11-02T16:22:55Z")
What I hope: A. Nov 4 1:30 am B Nov 4 2:00 pm What I fear A. Jan 20, 2021 12:00 B. Jan 3, 2021 12:00 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/4 "2020-11-02T16:23:35Z")
We’ll know both by midnight on Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/5 "2020-11-02T16:27:12Z")
President: We’ll know earlier, but it’ll officially be called when west coast polls close, 11:00 pm Senate: Maybe a touch more ambiguity here, but whenever the later of Arizona and Colorado polls close. I think that’s 10:00 pm. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/6 "2020-11-02T23:09:55Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > it’ll officially be called I’m pretty sure this is not true. Did you mean “certain television networks will say certain things”? Or perhaps “one or the other candidates will concede”? “Official calling” occurs on December 13, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/7 "2020-11-02T23:14:39Z")
Yes, I meant by the media. Is there really some confusion about what “officially called” would mean in this context? ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/8 "2020-11-02T23:25:47Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > President: We’ll know earlier, but it’ll officially be called when west coast polls close, 11:00 pm > > Senate: Maybe a touch more ambiguity here, but whenever the later of Arizona and Colorado polls close. I think that’s 10:00 pm. What about AK (an hour behind the West Coast) and HI (an hour behind AK)? Or is the assumption that they won’t have any effect on the results in the other 48? ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/9 "2020-11-02T23:27:33Z")
They have very few EVs, and if needed to push either candidate over the top, I think we’d reasonably assume that AK will go Trump and HI Biden. The Pacific Time Zone is pretty well definitive, too (other than NV), but there’s a lot of EVs there, so no one’s going to call it before their polls close (unless Biden is having a _very_ good night.) ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/10 "2020-11-02T23:32:17Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/11 "2020-11-02T23:50:13Z")
Traditionally, the election ends when one candidate concedes to the other. This year, I think the election will go past New Years. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/12 "2020-11-02T23:56:14Z")
> [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](#): > > Yes, I meant by the media. Is there really some confusion about what “officially called” would mean in this context? Sorry. If it weren’t for all the horrendous misinformation now being peddled by haters of democracy, I wouldn’t feel so obligated to ask for clarity. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/13 "2020-11-02T23:57:03Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > This year, I think the election will go past New Years. Well, the Electoral College meets on Dec 14, and must transmit their votes to the Senate by Dec 23, so that’s not going to happen. Unless they fail to generate a majority for one candidate, that is. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/14 "2020-11-03T00:06:57Z")
By the networks: 11:00 pm EST 11/3 for president 12:00 pm EST for the Senate Presidential loser conceding: A month from never ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/15 "2020-11-03T00:08:15Z")
I think that is possible, I would not be surprised if this is a negotiated election like 1876. ---
**Author:** ![Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/do_not_taunt/32/2968_2.png) [@Do\_Not\_Taunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Do_Not_Taunt)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/16 "2020-11-03T00:09:10Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I think that is possible Sure, it’s definitely _possible._ Do you consider it likely? It that actually your prediction? ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/17 "2020-11-03T00:10:04Z")
One or both of the Georgia senate races will go to a January 5, 2021 runoff if no candidate gets 50% on November 3rd,so there is a real possibility that the senate won’t be fully decided until early next year. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/18 "2020-11-03T00:10:30Z")
Good questions. It’s all about if, if, if, if… If it’s close: A) Friday 9:00 AM B) Thursday night If it’s a landslide: A) Wednesday, Midnight B) Wednesday afternoon ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/19 "2020-11-03T00:31:39Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > One or both of the Georgia senate races will go to a January 5, 2021 runoff if no candidate gets 50% on November 3rd,so there is a real possibility that the senate won’t be fully decided until early next year. Oh, interesting. I’m hopeful that we will know the presidential outcome by late Tuesday evening, but fearful that we won’t know until mid December. I guess if I have to pick a prediction, I’ll go with late Tuesday. Most states can count their early ballots, there are only a couple that have nutty rules that are going to delay their count. Hopefully, those few don’t make or break the election. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553/20 "2020-11-03T01:03:32Z")
Hmm, here are a few data points from an article in the Economist: > **[Biden or Trump? Americans may have to wait days to know who won](https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/11/02/biden-or-trump-americans-may-have-to-wait-days-to-know-who-won)** > > They should also be prepared for large swings as the results unfold Arizona, Florida, NC, and Texas are all expected to count their votes quickly – they start processing early ballots before elections day. But Texas accepts ballots that are postmarked Nov 3 and received Nov 4, and NC accepts slow mail through Nov 12, so if it’s close, we’ll need to wait. FL is expected to have results election night, unless it’s very close. Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin forbid processing beforehand, and may be very slow to report results. And PA accepts ballot through Nov 6. The states are going to be reporting votes in different orders, too. So, Arizona, Ohio and NC will likely report their early ballots before their day-of ballots, whereas Wisconsin will report the in-person ballots first. (as will Pennsylvania and Michigan) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-when-will-we-know-election-results/924553.md?page=2)