US Election Results 2024 Winner: Donald Trump Or Kamala Harris; When Will We Know Who Has Won US Election?

The stage is set for a tense and drawn-out process in the 2024 US presidential election, with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris both vying for the critical 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the race. While some states have already projected winners, many others are still counting votes, leaving Americans, and the world, in suspense.

Why the Process Takes Longer in the US

In the US, the election results can feel chaotic due to the country's vast size and differing time zones, leading to varying polling hours across states. Polls closed at 11 p.m. UK time, with the final ones closing at 4 a.m. UK time. In past elections, the winner was typically declared by this point, but this year, the process could stretch into days or even weeks.

As of now, early results show Trump leading in several battleground states, but factors such as high voter turnout and increased postal voting could shift the momentum in the coming hours or days.

How the Election Is Called

A "projected winner" is declared when it's mathematically clear who has won, but this is not the final result. Official results come from state officials, and it often takes anywhere from seven to 30 days for final certification, depending on the state.

Sky News has partnered with NBC News, granting access to the most up-to-date exit polls and results, as well as extensive vote-counting data from every state and county across America. However, even with the most comprehensive data, a winner isn't immediately declared.

Big Voter Turnout: The Delays

With 240 million Americans eligible to vote, high turnout is expected to complicate and lengthen the vote-counting process. In 2020, a record 158.5 million Americans voted, the highest since 1900. As of Monday, more than 77 million Americans had already cast their votes-42.2 million in person and 35.1 million by mail.

While turnout was high in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a massive spike in postal voting, which took longer to process. Election officials are optimistic that 2024's vote count will go smoother, as fewer pandemic-related challenges exist, according to NBC News.

The Tight Race and Longer Wait

Polls leading up to the election have shown a tight race, particularly in key swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The competition has been so close that experts are cautious about predicting the final outcome.

In some states, the results are clear early on, and a "projected winner" can be announced. In swing states, however, the margin of victory may be so narrow that a winner will only be projected once nearly all votes have been counted. This could take days.

Key Terms to Know During the Count

NBC News uses a number of key terms to describe the progress of the vote count:

• Too early to call: There's not enough data yet to project a winner.
• Too close to call: The margin between the candidates is so narrow (less than 5%) that a winner can't be declared with certainty.
• Leaning: When a candidate is ahead and likely to win, but the race hasn't been officially called.
• Projected winner: NBC News declares that a candidate has won, based on available data and projections.

Historical Precedents: How Long Can It Take?

While it's common for the US election to take a couple of days to resolve, the 2020 election's four-day delay was a rare occurrence. The 2000 election, however, is still remembered as one of the longest waits in history.

That year, the contest between Al Gore and George W. Bush hinged on Florida's 25 electoral votes. The state's vote count was so close that it triggered a recount and sparked a legal battle. Ultimately, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Bush, handing him the presidency after a long and contentious delay.

After the Election: What Happens Next?

Once a winner is projected, the formal election process begins, but the winner is not officially elected until the electoral votes are cast and counted. Electors will cast their votes on December 17, and Congress will certify the results on January 6. The new president will take office on January 20, following an inauguration.

Unlike in the UK, where the election winner immediately takes office, the US has a transition period where the president-elect prepares to assume power while the outgoing president remains in office.

As we await the final results of the 2024 presidential election, one thing is certain: the process will be full of tension, uncertainty, and political drama, as America decides its next leader.