US Election Night Drama: Results Could Take Days to Unfold!

As the clock ticks down to Election Day, the U.S. presidential race feels like a thrilling roller coaster, climbing higher and higher as the nation anticipates the outcome. Voting for the 2024 election concludes in a staggered manner across three time zones, starting with the East Coast on November 5. But the burning question remains: how quickly will Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump learn their fates?

In 2016, voters had a clear picture by the morning of November 6. After polls closed on the evening of November 8, Donald Trump crossed the magical threshold of 270 electoral college votes when he snagged Wisconsin’s 10 votes, sealing his victory just after 2:30 a.m. The celebration was swift as Hillary Clinton called to congratulate him within minutes. It was a moment that felt like lightning striking—unexpected but electrifying.

However, the wait could be much longer this time around. Back in 2020, polls closed on November 3, yet Joe Biden had to twiddle his thumbs until November 7, when Pennsylvania finally awarded him its 20 electoral college votes. The slowest outcome on record belongs to the 2000 election, where the nation held its breath for more than a month before George W. Bush was declared president, following a nail-biting tally that began on November 7 and ended on December 12.

It's crucial to remember that the U.S. presidential election hinges not on the popular vote but on the elusive electoral college votes. Both Harris and Trump need at least 270 of the 538 available votes to claim victory. The number of electoral votes each state possesses is determined by its representation in the House and Senate, with every state guaranteed two Senate votes. As polling places across the country close at different times, those still in line at closing time will have their votes counted, no matter how long it takes. With early voting already seeing over 55 million ballots cast, it looks like this election may serve up a mix of excitement and patience—kind of like waiting for the last slice of pizza, but with a lot more riding on it!