Election Winner May Not Be Declared for Days

Volunteer poll worker accepts a mail ballot at a drop off site outside the Leon County Supervisor of Elections office in Tallahassee, Fla, on Nov.3, 2020. Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images

Although Election Day has arrived, it might take days before we know who won.

Over 95-million Americans had already voted by the eve of the election, with nearly two-thirds of those mailed in. About 20 states allow for late-arriving ballots—as long as they’re postmarked on or before Election Day. This increases the likelihood that the final outcome won’t be clear for a while.