Minnesota election results: When will we know the election results in MN?

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – Minnesotans are expected to have the most voting results the morning after Election Day, according to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.

Simon, who held a news conference Monday to discuss election security, said it could take days to finish counting ballots in some states, but faster in Minnesota. It's all based on state law.

“Some states will accept ballots postmarked by Election Day,” Simon said. “Other states have a rule where they can't begin counting mail-in ballots until after the polls close… They follow their state's laws.”

In Minnesota, election officials are allowed to begin counting absentee and absentee ballots as early as 18 days before Election Day. The state also will not accept ballots that do not arrive at drop-off locations before polls close on Election Day. But as Simon explained, that's not the case in all other states. But just because some states are taking longer to report doesn't mean there's a problem, according to Simon.

So when can we expect results in Minnesota?

Polls in Minnesota close at 8 p.m. and results will be available soon after.

In the last presidential election in 2020, the first votes were reported at 8:08 p.m., just 8 minutes after polls closed. And by 11 p.m., 66% of the votes cast had been reported.

In fact, at 11:13 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2020 (Election Day), The Associated Press called the presidential race for Joe Biden.

So there's a good chance that Minnesotans will know who won the electoral votes in Minnesota before midnight again this year.

Michigan: First presidential election with early voting

Michigan's 2024 election will be the first time the state has offered early voting during a presidential election, which officials hope will provide relief on Election Day.

Here are some key factors the state should consider:

• Voting options: Mail-in ballots were mailed beginning September 26th, and in-person early voting began October 7th.
• Counting timeline: Clerks will be allowed to begin processing mail-in ballots eight days before Election Day, which could reduce delays. Many counties expect 90% of mail-in ballots to be processed before polls open.
• Potential delays: Some employees are concerned about USPS delays that could impact ballots mailed close to Election Day. Voters are advised to submit their postal votes at least two weeks in advance.

With high voter turnout expected, Michigan election officials want to avoid the delays seen in 2020 through early voting and efficient absentee ballot processing.

North Carolina: 90% of votes expected by midnight

North Carolina wants to report nearly all (90%) of its votes by midnight on Election Day, November 5th. Details include:

• Mail-in ballots: The state will process mail-in ballots weekly beginning Oct. 1 so they can be counted immediately after polls close.
• Early Voting: Early in-person voting is available from October 17th to November 2nd and totals will be processed before Election Day.
• Weather Challenges: Western North Carolina faces potential complications from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which affected polling place accessibility. New rules give affected voters more options.

Because of its streamlined processes, North Carolina is likely to achieve results sooner than many other swing states.

Pennsylvania: Delayed results due to mail-in rules

In Pennsylvania, mail-in ballots cannot be processed until 7 a.m. on Election Day, causing expected delays in results. Key details include:

• Absentee Voting: Over 1 million people used absentee ballots in the last gubernatorial election. This year, a new bill allowing processing before Election Day remains stalled in the state legislature.
• Counting timeline: Without early processing, counting mail-in ballots can take days, especially in a close race. Democrats tend to favor mail-in voting, so early results could favor Republicans until mail-in ballots are processed.
• Legal and Legislative Factors: Former Gov. Tom Wolf's Act 77 expanded mail-in voting, and ongoing political tensions are affecting any attempts to change counting procedures in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania's secretary of state has suggested that voters should not expect a clear winner on election night, especially given the expected high turnout.

Nevada: Expanded counting due to mail-in ballots

In Nevada, mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted up to four days afterward, which could delay final results:

• Absentee voting: Since more than half of the states vote by mail, ballots postmarked by Election Day will be accepted for counting until four days afterward.
• Modernizations: A new nationwide registration system is intended to speed up the counting. Clark County is adding tabulation devices to handle high voter turnout.
• Counting Schedule: Results may become available gradually, but a final result may take days, especially in close races.

In 2020, Nevada's results were certified four days after Election Day, and 2024 could follow a similar schedule.

Arizona: High early voting on Election Day

Arizona's high number of early ballots cast on Election Day itself has led to delays in final results in the past:

• Verification of Ballots: Early ballots cast on Election Day are subject to verification, including signature verification, before being counted. Maricopa County in particular saw a record 100,000 ballots cast on Election Day in 2020.
• Counting schedule: As of November 10th, 619,000 ballots had not been counted in the 2020 election. This trend could repeat itself in 2024 due to close races and record turnout.
• Comparison with Florida: In contrast to Arizona, in Florida voting on election day is only possible in the district election offices, which could explain the faster reporting.

Officials in Arizona expect a close race, with results likely to unfold over days as late ballots are reviewed and counted.

Wisconsin: Mail-in voting and close races delay results

Wisconsin expect delays due to postal voting and close races:

• Counting process: Wisconsin counts mail-in ballots centrally in certain counties, but they cannot begin until 7 a.m. on Election Day. Milwaukee's results, for example, usually come late at night or early the next morning.
• Political polarization: Close races require nearly all ballots to be counted before results are announced, leading to longer wait times for unofficial results.
• Historical timeline: In 2020, the AP called Wisconsin the day after the election. Based on previous years, unofficial results for the 2024 election may not be available until early November 6th.

Poll workers value accuracy over speed, and the overnight absentee count is expected to have an impact on the early results.

Georgia: Legal Challenges and Record Participation

Georgia faces record turnout amid a host of legal challenges that could impact vote processing:

• Litigation: Current lawsuits challenge voter registration deadlines, candidate qualifications and last-minute state election board rules. The Supreme Court of Georgia recently delayed Decision on short-term changes only after the election.
• Voter Registration: Hurricane Helene led to lawsuits seeking to extend voter registration deadlines, although these were ultimately rejected.
• Third Party Candidates: Some Ballots can include disqualified third-party candidates due to a Supreme Court ruling issued after mail-in ballots were distributed.

Given the numerous lawsuits and high voter turnout, there could be delays in election results in Georgia, especially in close races.

What times do polls close in swing states?

• Arizona: 8:00 p.m. CT
• Georgia: 6:00 p.m. CT
• Michigan: 7 p.m. CT
• Pennsylvania: 7 p.m. CT
• Nevada: 9:00 p.m. CT
• North Carolina: 6:30 p.m. CT
• Wisconsin: 7 p.m. CT