NEW YORK – The Associated Press and others decision offices the countdown will begin the results of the presidential elections as the polls close, but America may not know whether former President Donald Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris will win until days later.

The Competition 2024 it’s extremely tight, especially in the seven swing states, meaning the country may have to wait for key states to count mail-in and absentee ballots before the race is called.

Watch the election results live here.

On Saturday, November 7, 2020, Biden was named president, just four days after the polls closed.

“Voters need to know, early and often, that we likely won’t have results on Election Day (2024)” Danielle Lang told the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center FOX 5 NY. “There’s a good chance we won’t have results the day after Election Day or even the day after.”

Each state has different rules for counting ballots, including Pennsylvania, where election officials must wait until 7 am ET on Election Day before they can begin processing mail-in ballots and getting them ready to be counted. The publication of postal vote results it cannot start until after the polls are closed.

“The biggest problem is that in some states, particularly Pennsylvania, Republicans in the state legislature have passed a law that requires election officials to wait until Election Day to begin opening and counting all early ballots sent through correspondence”, Paul Schiff. Berman, a professor at the George Washington University School of Law, said FOX 5 NY. “That just slows the process down, obviously.”

Pennsylvania has 19 electoral votes, making it the largest prize for presidential candidates. So if the highly competitive race is as close in the Keystone State as polls show, their counting process could hold up the rest of the country.

A mail-in ballot issued by Hudson County, New Jersey for the 2024 U.S. general election is seen on September 22, 2024, in Hoboken, New Jersey. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

In general, mail-in votes have tended to favor Democrats since the issue of early and mail-in voting. became highly politicized during the 2020 election. That means the Democratic nominee in a competitive race could take an early lead in the vote count in initial poll reports after the polls close, even though the race may tighten considerably as more votes are cast .

What to expect from swing states on election night:

Michigan

Number of electoral votes: 15

A the new law give to local election officials more time to process and tabulate mail-in ballotswhich should help ease the gridlock that has slowed vote counting in the 2020 presidential election.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 51%, Trump (D) 48%
• AP Race Call: Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 5:58 PM ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First reported votes, November 3, 2020: 8:08 PM ET.
• As of midnight ET: About 45% of all votes cast have been reported.

North Carolina

Number of electoral votes: 16

North Carolina has a reputation for fast vote counting and aims to report almost all (90%) of its votes by midnight on Election Day, November 5. This year, however, the count may be slowed in some areas due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Trump (R) 50%, Biden (D) 49%
• AP Race Call: Friday. November 13, 2020, 3:49 PM ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First reported votes, November 3, 2020: 7:42 PM ET.
• By midnight ET: About 99% of all votes cast have been reported.

Pennsylvania

The number of electoral votes: 19

In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots cannot be processed until 7 a.m. on Election Day, leading to expected results delays.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 50%, Trump (D) 49%
• AP Race Call: Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 11:25 a.m. ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First reported votes, November 3, 2020: 8:09 PM ET.
• As of midnight ET: About 54% of all votes cast have been reported.

Nevada

The number of electoral votes: 6

Nevada conducts its elections primarily by mail. The state allows mail-in ballots postmarked before Election Day to be counted up to four days after, which can delay final results.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 50%, Trump (D) 48%
• AP Race Call: Saturday, November 7, 2020, 12:13 PM ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First votes reported, November 3, 2020: 11:41 PM ET.
• As of 6 am ET on November 4, 2020: Approximately 79% of all votes cast have been reported.

Arizona

The number of electoral votes: 11

In Arizona, ballots cast and processed before Election Day are the first to be reported after polls close. Mail-in ballots that are delivered on Election Day take much longer to be tabulated because election workers don’t begin processing or verifying them until after the polls close.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 49.4%, Trump (D) 49.1%
• AP Race Call: Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 2:51 a.m. ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First reported votes, November 3, 2020: 10:02 PM ET.
• As of midnight ET: About 72% of all votes cast have been reported.

Wisconsin

The number of electoral votes: 10

Wisconsin expects delays due to absentee ballot procedures and closed races.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 50%, Trump (D) 49%
• AP Race Call: Wednesday, November 4, 2020, 2:16 PM ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First votes reported, November 3, 2020: 9:07 PM ET.
• By midnight ET: About 70% of all votes cast have been reported.

Georgia

The number of electoral votes: 16

Georgia faces record turnout amid a slew of legal challenges that could affect vote processing. Georgia state law allows county election officials to begin tabulating mail-in ballots at 7 a.m. on Election Day. As a result, the first votes reported on election night will include a large portion of these mail-in ballots as well as early in-person votes. Generally, these ballots have tended to favor Democrats since the issue of early and mail-in voting became highly politicized during the 2020 election.

Previous presidential results

• 2020: Biden (D) 49.5%, Trump (D) 49.3%
• AP Race Call: Thursday, November 19, 2020, 7:58 PM ET.

How long does it take to count the votes?

• First votes reported, November 3, 2020: 7:20 PM ET.
• By midnight ET: About 77% of all votes cast have been reported.