Navigating the US Election Results: A Comprehensive Guide

After a long and often tumultuous election process, the moment of truth is finally here: determining the outcome of the US election. This article aims to provide a thorough explanation of how to find out the US election results, from the moment the results start trickling in to when a winner is declared.

Initial Reporting and Real-Time Updates

Once election day is over, you can follow the US election results using various search engines or news channels. Simply type in terms like “2020 US election results” or “2020 Michigan state senate election results” into your search engine. As the night progresses, results will be updated in real-time on major news networks such as CBS and CNN.

Await Official Announcements

The outcome of the election may not be officially declared until long after election day, depending on various factors. It could take up to weeks as challenges may be filed and resolved by the 8th of December. Also, the results may be sent to the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) for further review, as occurred in the 2000 election when the Florida recounted was challenged.

Understanding the Electoral Process

Here’s a deeper look into the electoral process leading to the determination of the winner:

The popular votes on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, in years divisible by four, are tallied as soon as they are counted. Political parties, including Republicans, Democrats, Greens, and Libertarians, can challenge the results. Challenges must be resolved by the 8th of December. If a precinct's vote results are still in dispute after the 8th of December, then the last tallied result stands and is certified. Each state and district's total popular vote is used to select 538 electors. These electors, chosen by the states and districts, will vote for president and vice president on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, in years divisible by four. The electoral votes are then sent to the US Senate, where they sit until January 6th. The 120,000 popular votes on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November directly elect one representative per congressional district (435 in total) and one senator per state, who are sworn in on January 3rd following the election. The electoral votes are tallied on January 6th in a joint session of Congress in the House chambers.

What Happens if No Candidate Gets 270 Electoral Votes?

In the event that no candidate receives 270 electoral votes, the process becomes more complex:

If no candidate has 270 electoral votes for president, all candidates lose, and the House of Representatives votes to choose the president. Each state delegation casts one vote, with votes continuing until a candidate reaches a majority. There's no tiebreaker in the House unless required by a tie. If no candidate has 270 electoral votes for vice president, the Senate votes to choose the vice president. Each senator votes, and in the event of a tie, the Vice President has the deciding vote.

These complex processes may delay the announcement of a clear winner, potentially extending the timeline for the confirmations of the elected officials.

Conclusion

The US election results can be a drawn-out process, influenced by legal challenges, recounts, and the electoral college's method of vote-counting. The results are not always clear on election night and can take several days, weeks, or even months to finalize. To stay informed, watch trusted news channels, follow official statements, and monitor the official results and challenges as they develop.