With the population extremely divided, Americans have two major questions as they head into another presidential election: who will win and when will they know who the new president will be?
In 2020, Joe Biden was not officially declared the winner until Saturday. This year, everything is so uncertain that it is believed it could take up to a week for a winner to be announced, or we might celebrate or be disappointed as early as Wednesday (6) itself.
However, projecting a presidential winner by Wednesday will require that the key battleground states, particularly Pennsylvania, are not essentially tied. There will need to be a large enough difference between first and second place to project a winner.
Races that are nearly tied, like the presidential race in Georgia and Arizona in 2020 (Joe Biden’s margins of victory in those states were 11,779 and 10,457 votes, respectively), essentially require that all votes be counted before a winner can truly be declared. This can take days to happen.
Will Trump Contest the Results if He Loses?
The polls have barely opened and Donald Trump’s campaign has already signaled that it will contest the election results if he loses the race.
Trump is already claiming that the Democrats are “a bunch of cheaters,” while his allies in battleground states spread distorted reports of setbacks at the polls with the aim of creating a narrative of widespread fraud.
Trump and his most prominent supporters cite partisan polls and betting markets as evidence that he is on track for a “landslide victory.” This expectation helps set the stage for disbelief and outrage among his supporters if he loses.
In other words, Trump being Trump.
For those who follow, enjoy, and understand the importance of American politics, prepare the popcorn and contain your anxiety; these elections will be at least exciting.
Source: The New York Times