Election Night Delays: When Were Past Races Called?

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Post on Nov 06, 2024

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Election Night Delays: When Were Past Races Called?

Everyone's glued to the TV, waiting for that magic moment when their candidate wins. But sometimes, the wait is longer than anyone expected. Election night delays can be frustrating, especially when you're eager to know the outcome. You're not alone in this, buddy! It's happened before, and it might happen again. Let's take a trip down memory lane and see when past races were called.

2020 Presidential Election: A Nail-Biter

We all remember the nail-biting 2020 election. The drama? It was real, folks. The race was super tight, and it took a while for the results to come in. You might have felt like you were waiting forever! In fact, the 2020 presidential election was not officially called until Saturday, November 7th, a full day after Election Day.

Why the Delay?

So, what causes these delays? Well, there are a bunch of factors at play.

1. Mail-in Ballots: More and more folks are voting by mail, especially after 2020. These ballots take time to process. It's like a massive sorting operation, and sometimes, they take a while to get to the right place.

2. Counting Rules Vary: Every state has its own rules about when and how they count ballots. Some states start counting early, others wait until Election Day. Imagine a bunch of different time zones, each counting things differently! This can definitely add to the delay.

3. Close Races: When races are close, it takes longer to figure out who wins. Think of it like a super-tight game—you need overtime to determine the victor!

Past Election Delays: A Look Back in Time

Let's rewind a bit and see when other races were called.

• 2016 Presidential Election: The 2016 presidential election results weren't announced until the morning after Election Day. This was due to several factors, including the number of battleground states and the close margins in some of them.
• 2012 Presidential Election: The 2012 race was called fairly early, around 11:30 PM EST, for President Obama.
• 2008 Presidential Election: This race was a nail-biter too! But in the end, it was called for Barack Obama around 11:15 PM EST.

Patience is Key

So, next time you're watching the election results unfold, be prepared for the long haul. Patience is key, especially when you're dealing with a close race. But remember, every vote counts!

Stay informed, vote, and let's hope for a smooth election.