US presidential election results may face delays due to increased mail-in ballots

The final results of the 2024 US presidential election may not be available on election night due to the rising use of mail-in ballots. External analyses suggest that the process of opening, verifying, and counting these ballots will take longer, potentially delaying the announcement of the final outcome by several days.

According to ABC News, recent US elections have shown a growing trend of delayed result announcements. In the 2020 presidential election, held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the final results were not confirmed until Saturday, Nov. 7—four days later. A similar delay occurred during the 2022 midterm election.

The timing of this year's election results will largely depend on the competitiveness of the races and the speed of vote counting in each state. Some states, with faster vote-counting procedures or fewer mail-in ballots, may report results more quickly. Others, bound by regulations that slow the counting process or that see a higher percentage of mail-in ballots, may take longer.

While the vote-counting pace in most regions is expected to mirror previous elections, new laws in some states could further delay the final results. As a result, the time voters wait for the outcome may vary significantly depending on these factors.

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