Expect Election Results “Quicker” Than in 2020
You have heard the phrase over and over this year—election night is not results night.
Pennsylvanians specifically might remember frustration from 2020, when Philadelphia did not finish counting votes until the Saturday after the election.
But, a city commissioner says Americans can expect results sooner in 2024.
Seth Bluestein, on the Philadelphia board of elections, spoke to reporters on a virtual press conference today. He said the city has additional equipment and has hired more temporary staff to help count mail in ballots.
He also said that there are less mail in ballots coming in this year.
In 2020, the mail in ballot option was new, and there were pandemic fears. Four years later, a substantial amount of voters are going back to in person voting as their preferred method.
"What that means is that there will be fewer mail ballots to count during election during the week of the election,” said Bluestein. "The bulk of those ballots should be counted within a day. Or two of the election. It won't take until the saturday after the election.
Another big impact on when the state will get election results is how tight the race is. Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris neck and neck in the polls. Networks might have to wait till most of the ballots are counted to make a call, compared to when one candidate has a major point lead.