State Variability in Election Processes

Each U.S. state has its own rules governing election processes, leading to significant variability in how ballots are counted. Some states, for instance, count mail-in ballots as they arrive, while others may wait until Election Day to begin the process. In North Carolina, voters have a window of several days after the election to ensure their ballots are counted, which can greatly extend the waiting period for results if the election is tight. This decentralized approach means that understanding election outcomes can be complex, as there are essentially 51 separate elections happening simultaneously.