In a time of increasing partisan polarization and political disinformation, the integrity of election results has never been more critical. The ability of democracy to function depends on citizens’ willingness to accept the outcome of an election as legitimate, and perceptions of electoral integrity and satisfaction with democracy are influenced by how closely the result matches or exceeds expectations.
In addition to the presidential race, voters across the country will decide on a host of local and state races. The result of the national and state elections will determine which legislative bodies control the House and Senate, and which policies are implemented.
Election results are the official count of votes cast in a specific race, and are certified by the chief elections officer in each state. Find your Secretary of State’s website to get detailed state-by-state results. You can also find maps of vote totals and a directory of election offices that will answer questions about ballot curing, provisional ballots and mail-in ballots.
Despite the numerous challenges to voting during the pandemic, many states and localities managed to hold safe and efficient elections. However, some voters experienced unfulfilled expectations about how their vote would be counted and the outcome of the election. Moreover, some people may have seen or heard claims that the election was stolen from their preferred candidate. These unfulfilled expectations could contribute to negative attitudes towards the electoral process and democracy.