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Here’s what we know at the time of writing:
1) As we head into Election Day tomorrow, it’s important to keep in mind that it may take some time before we know who won the various races around the country, including the race for president. The key thing to keep in mind is that this wait time is both normal and expected because the ways votes are cast and counted vary by state. In-person votes are generally counted and reported relatively quickly, but states with high levels of voting by mail often take longer to declare winners — especially if they allow ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving later to be counted. This is especially true when races are close — and the polling data for this year’s presidential race suggests it could be one of the closest elections in decades. For example, by law, the state of Pennsylvania can’t start counting mailed ballots until the morning of Election Day, which means a winner likely won’t be declared for that state on election night. Fortunately, there are sound safeguards and contingencies already built into our election system. For instance, 98 percent of votes will be cast on paper ballots that can be recounted and hand counted if necessary.
No matter how close the results of the presidential or any of the other races are, the important things to keep in mind are to remain calm and advocate for every eligible vote to be counted just as we call on leaders to accept the will of the voters. This overview from Protect Democracy gives a detailed rundown of what to expect as votes are counted.
2) As we enter the final hours of campaigning and prepare for the post-election period, it’s more important than ever to get information from trusted sources and be wary of inadvertently spreading disinformation. While the election system itself is quite secure from any manipulation of the results —with the added protection of the U.S. Justice Department monitoring polls in 27 states for compliance with federal voting rights laws — U.S. officials have warned in recent weeks and months that several other countries, such as Russia, China, and Iran, have sought to spread “misleading and polarizing content aimed at undermining confidence in elections,” according to the Associated Press. The best ways to counter these efforts include avoiding amplifying sensational and unverified claims on social media and relying on nonpartisan, trusted sources of news. We hope that this newsletter will be one of your trusted sources. You can also get up-to-date information and resources from organizations such as the National Task Force on Election Crises, which has a helpful and comprehensive FAQ section here.
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