The short answer
- Election night numbers are unofficial. They are partial counts reported as they come in.
- Counting continues for days in many states, especially for mail and provisional ballots.
- News organisations "call" races when the result is clear from their data. A call is a projection, not an official result.
- States certify official results weeks later, after checking and reconciling every ballot. Certification deadlines run from late November into December.
For the 2026 midterms on Tuesday 3 November, the first results are expected after 6 p.m. Eastern, when polls close in parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
Step 1: polls close and counting begins
Each state, and usually each county, runs its own election. When polls close:
- Early in-person and Election Day votes are tallied by machine and reported first in many places.
- Mail ballots are a different story. Some states let officials process them (checking signatures and opening envelopes) before Election Day, so they are reported quickly. Others do not allow that work to start until Election Day, so mail ballots come in later.
- Ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving afterwards still count in some states, up to a set deadline.
Because states do this in different orders, the early lead in a race can shift as later batches are added. Commentators sometimes call this a "red mirage" or "blue shift". It is normal, and not a sign of fraud.
Step 2: what it means when a race is called
Organisations such as the Associated Press, and the major television networks, run "decision desks". They combine reported results with data on how many ballots remain and where they are from. They call a race only when they judge that the trailing candidate cannot catch up.
- A call can come minutes after polls close in a lopsided race, or days later in a close one.
- Calls are very rarely retracted, but they are not legally binding.
- "Too close to call" simply means more counting is needed.
Step 3: the canvass
After Election Day, local officials carry out the canvass: the formal process of making sure every valid ballot is counted exactly once. It includes:
- Counting remaining mail and military and overseas ballots.
- Deciding on provisional ballots, cast when a voter's eligibility needs checking. They are counted once eligibility is confirmed.
- Signature cures: in many states, voters whose mail ballot signatures did not match are contacted and given a few days to fix the problem.
- Reconciling numbers: making sure the number of ballots matches the number of voters who checked in.
- Audits in many states, comparing a sample of paper ballots against machine counts.
Step 4: certification
Once the canvass is done, counties certify their results, then the state does. Certification is a legal duty, not a political choice: officials confirm the count, and courts are the place for disputes.
Deadlines vary by state. According to Ballotpedia, 42 states set a statutory deadline for state certification. For example, Michigan's state board must certify within 20 days of the election, which is 23 November 2026, and California must certify by 11 December. Your state's secretary of state or election office lists its own dates.
Recounts, runoffs and disputes
- Recounts. Many states order an automatic recount when the margin is very narrow, often 0.5 percentage points or less. Elsewhere, candidates can request one. Recounts usually move totals by only a few votes.
- Runoffs. A few states, including Georgia and Louisiana, hold a second round if no candidate reaches a required share of the vote. In Georgia, a general election runoff for 2026 would be held on 1 December 2026.
- Legal challenges go through the courts, which require evidence.
How to follow results reliably
- Use your state or county election office's website for official numbers.
- Follow established news organisations' results pages, which show what share of the expected vote has been counted.
- Be wary of screenshots, viral clips and claims of fraud on social media, especially in the days after an election. AI-made fakes are common. Our guide to deepfakes and election misinformation explains what to look for.
For what is on the ballot in 2026, see our midterm elections guide, and for how to cast your vote, our state-by-state voting guide.
Key takeaways
- Election night results are partial and unofficial.
- Counting order differs by state, so leads can shift as mail ballots are added.
- A media call is a projection; certification makes results official.
- Certification runs from late November into December, and close races may go to recounts or runoffs.