When will Georgia’s election results be announced? Here’s when you can expect a decision
No matter how desperately you want to know the results of the Presidential Election, it is unlikely you’ll get a real decision by the end of Tuesday, Nov. 5. The rules for tallying ballots vary from state to state and recent changes to ballot measures will likely make for delayed results.
Here’s what to expect as the election process moves into the counting phase.
Election night updates
Polls close at 7 p.m. in Georgia, and the first results typically start rolling in around 7:20 p.m. These initial numbers will mainly include early in-person votes and mail-in ballots, which election officials can begin processing two weeks before Election Day.
What to watch for
Early results may not tell the whole story. In recent elections, initial tallies have sometimes skewed toward one party due to differences in voting methods and reporting speeds across counties.
Keep in mind that a complete picture will take time to emerge.
Timing for final results
While you’ll see partial results on Election Night, the full count may take longer.
By law, officials must count ballots continuously until finished
Absentee ballot counting must be completed by 5 p.m. the day after the election
Counties have until Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. to certify their final counts
The big picture
In a close race, it could take days or even weeks to declare a winner. Remember, it took 16 days for the Associated Press to call Georgia’s results in the 2020 presidential election.
Keep an eye on the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer for the most up-to-date information as results come in.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 1:57 PM.
