Election results summarize the votes cast in a particular electoral contest. They are determined through a process called tabulation, which counts ballots at each polling place and at other locations, and is often performed multiple times to ensure accuracy. Depending on electoral systems and seal allocation methods, election results may be released at various levels of granularity, from the polling station to the national level.
Voters deposit completed (also known as marked) ballots in ballot boxes or scanners at in-person and mail-in voting sites, or they can submit them online, or via telephone. The ballots are then counted, or “tabulated,” in precinct-level and centralized election offices. Often, a combination of professional and volunteer election administrators conduct these steps. Documenting chain of custody, following established procedures for observing elections and challenging ballots, and auditing results are also important in this process.
In an election as close as this one, every single vote will matter. The winners and their margins will tell us about the state of political competition in the country and the world, as well as the strength of democratic institutions.
In addition, this election season is being viewed as a referendum on President Trump and his Republican colleagues, a reflection of public dissatisfaction with their policies. If this holds true in midterm elections next year, it could signal a significant shift in the national political landscape.