When Will the American Elections Declare the Victory of Donald Trump or Kamala Harris?

Kapanlagi.com - The 2024 United States presidential election is now in the spotlight, thanks to the fierce battle between two major figures: Donald Trump from the Republican Party and Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party. With the voting day set for November 5, 2024, the looming question is when exactly the winner of this election will be announced.

Experience from previous elections shows that election results in America are not always available instantly on election night. Various factors, such as the tight competition and the number of votes yet to be counted in several key states, can delay the announcement of the winner.

Unlike the direct election system implemented in many countries, the United States uses the Electoral College to determine who will sit in the presidential seat. Presidential candidates must secure at least 270 out of a total of 538 electoral votes to be declared the winner.

This means that even if a candidate receives the most votes from the people, if their electoral votes are insufficient, their opponent can still achieve victory. For example, in 2016, Hillary Clinton lost to Donald Trump despite garnering 65 million votes, more than Trump’s 62 million votes. However, Trump secured 304 electoral votes, enough to take him to the presidency, as reported by The Telegraph.

Let’s take a look at a summary of the process for determining the winner of the 2024 US presidential election and when the results can be announced, as summarized by Kapanlagi.com from various sources, Tuesday (11/5).

1. The Process of Closing Polling Places and Starting Vote Counting

Elections in the United States have a unique rhythm, starting and ending with varying schedules across states. On Tuesday (11/5) at 6:00 PM EST, most polling places will begin to close, which means Wednesday morning in Indonesia, while some states will wait until midnight to close their polling places.

This gives US media the opportunity to start projecting winners from states with less competitive results, such as Kentucky. However, in 'swing states' like Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the vote counting process may take longer.

Reports from Sky News indicate that if the results are very close, a recount may be necessary, considering how crucial a few thousand votes can be in determining the winner in key states. With the possibility of delayed winner announcements, especially in areas with very narrow results, the tension is rising.

2. The Tight Competition in 'Swing States' and Its Impact

The results of US elections are often influenced by 'swing states'—states that are not tied to one party and become fierce battlegrounds between candidates. States like Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin have long been known as determinants of presidential election outcomes, where competition is very tight and results are often very close, even triggering recounts that can delay the announcement of the winner.

For example, in the 2020 election, Pennsylvania, which contributed 20 electoral votes, was the key to Joe Biden's victory. If this pattern repeats itself this year, we may have to wait several days after the election to find out who the winner is. "In these unpredictable regions, voters can be the decisive factor in victory," reported The Telegraph.

3. Electoral College: The Final Determinant of Election Results

At the heart of the United States electoral system, the electoral vote becomes the primary determinant, divided based on the population of each state. Out of a total of 538 votes in the Electoral College, the presidential candidate who first reaches 270 votes or more will be declared the winner.

However, the uniqueness of this system often creates a gap between the popular vote and the final election results. Although results in most states can be revealed within 24 hours, 'swing' states like Nevada and Pennsylvania often require extra time to ensure the results.

As stated by the site usa.gov, the Electoral College process involves three stages: the selection of electors, a meeting to cast votes, and finally the counting of votes by the U.S. Congress.

4. Media Projections and Their Role in Announcing Results

The media in the United States plays an important role in shaping public perception regarding election results, with leading TV networks such as CNN and NBC often making projections on election night—even though they are not yet official results. For example, in the 2020 election, CNN announced Joe Biden's victory four days after the voting, as votes from Pennsylvania brought Biden closer to the 270 electoral votes needed.

As reported by The Telegraph, the announcement of Biden's victory occurred on Saturday, November 7, after the confirmation of votes in Pennsylvania.

If a similar scenario occurs in the 2024 Presidential Election, media projections could have a significant impact on public confidence in the election results, even though official results will only be established after the vote counting process is completed.

5. What Happens If There Is a Tie?

In the Electoral College system, there is an intriguing possibility that can occur: a tie, where both candidates receive 269 votes each. If this dramatic scenario unfolds, the U.S. House of Representatives will take over and conduct a contingency election to determine who will occupy the presidential seat.

Although moments like this are rare, the constitution has laid out the path. "If a tie occurs, the U.S. House of Representatives will elect the president through a contingency election," reported Sky News.

While the odds are slim, this tie could trigger a lengthy and controversial process, adding to the tension in U.S. politics.

6. When will the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election be announced?

Official results could be announced within days, but if the competition becomes more intense, we may have to wait several weeks for the awaited certainty.

7. Why does counting in 'swing states' take a long time?

With a very narrow margin of votes, 'swing state' areas become the main focus, as every vote can be decisive in the election.

Therefore, the counting process is conducted more carefully, ensuring that every vote is counted accurately to determine who will win.

8. What is the role of the Electoral College in the US Presidential Election?

The Electoral College system plays an important role in determining who will hold the presidency, in a unique way: not based on the direct popular vote, but through the electoral votes obtained from each state.

With this mechanism, each state has different votes, creating an interesting dynamic in the presidential election process in the United States.

(kpl/rmt)