The United States’ election results will have ramifications across the globe. CSIS scholars in Europe, Eurasia, the Americas, and Africa have already produced a series of essays assessing what it would mean for each region or country if either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency next January.
After voters cast their ballots on Election Day, local election officials count them to determine which candidates won each race. They do this by precinct and sometimes allow observers from the public, political parties, or the media to observe their counting process. Local officials then report unofficial election results to their communities and, if it is a State or Federal election, to their states. Then, once all valid votes are included in the final results, they will be certified by the chief election official, typically a secretary of state.
News outlets use these counts to make predictions about who will win each race. These predictions are based on calculations from their vote reporting systems, which track and compare data from different sources. They can take hours, days, or even weeks to collect all of the available data before making a call.
Regardless of the outcome, there will be uncertainty as people digest the results and consider their repercussions. One way to help navigate this uncertainty is to seek out news outlets that consistently exhibit journalistic rigor and a balanced approach to election coverage. This can reduce your risk of feeling overwhelmed by the avalanche of headlines and opinions, and it will enable you to remain grounded in your analysis of the impact of the election result.