Many of you may be wondering why it takes so long to count and certify the election results in states like Wisconsin or California. There are actually two different clocks: how fast unofficial results come in on election night, and when results are officially certified weeks later (AP News; EAC Voter Pamphlet)) Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution, also known as the Elections Clause, gives state legislatures the power to set the “times, places and manner” of congressional elections, and most states hand the day-to-day work to counties and towns (Cornell Law; AP News). Each state runs elections its own way, shaped by its size, geography and the needs of its voters, and it takes time to count and certify every vote. Our Vet the Vote Coalition partner Voting Rights Lab said it best, “Taking time to verify results is a sign the system is working as it should.”
One of the biggest reasons for timing differences is when election workers are legally allowed to begin processing mail in ballots. Some states, like Florida, are allowed to start early. This means their election staff can open ballot envelopes, verify voter signatures and feed ballots into scanners weeks before Election Day. The results stay locked and remain a secret until polls close, but the majority of the manual work is already complete. In states like Wisconsin, state law prohibits election workers from opening or processing mail in ballots until 7am on Election Day. This means election teams need to verify thousands of envelopes, check both signatures, scan paper ballots at the same time they are running in person voting. Naturally, this takes a significant amount of time and can delay election results late into the night.
Postmark rules and late arriving mail also vary state to state. For example, in states like California, every registered voter is mailed a ballot. As long as the ballot is postmarked by Election Day, the state law allows it to be counted if it arrives within 7 days after Election Day. Election officials won’t know the final number of ballots cast until the grace period closes. In states, like Wisconsin, mail in ballots generally have to be in the clerk’s hands by the time polls close on Election Day. This means by the time polling closes, election officials will have the total number of ballots available to count. It is important to note here that the Supreme Court ruled in Watson v. RNC, in June 29, 2026 that grace periods are allowed but does not require them.
For military families, extended ballot counting windows are critical. Service members deployed abroad or stationed at international installations cast ballots under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA). Because international mail times vary, federal and state law provides various return windows so that those serving overseas are included. Final certification typically waits for these eligible ballots to arrive and be verified.
Geography also shapes election laws. In Alaska, where many communities rely on boats or small aircraft for mail delivery, absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted if they arrive within 10 days, or 15 days for ballots mailed from overseas. .
News outlets often project race outcomes based on statistical modeling, but it is important to remember that the media does not have legal authority to call elections. Official certification does not occur on election night. Following election night, local bipartisan teams must complete the canvass. This includes reconciling poll books against the physical number of ballots cast, reviewing provisional and overseas ballots for legal eligibility, and conducting post election audits. Once canvassing is complete, state authorities can certify the results. Depending on the state, the final sign off generally occurs 1-4 weeks after voting concludes (National Conference of State Legislatures).
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