He was launching Months-long campaign against the mail vote in November By tweeting and speaking critically about the practice, it encouraged more states to keep voters safe amidst Corona Virus pandemic.
In an interview in July, the president likewise refused to commit to accepting the results. “I have to see. Look … I must see,” he said on Fox News Sunday. “No, I wouldn’t just say yes. I wouldn’t say no, and I wasn’t the last time.”
Now, a question that was previously unimaginable is being asked: What if the American president did not accept the election defeat? Is there a contingency plan in case the president and his supporters refuse to remain silent?
At what time will we know the winner in the US election?
Election night may not achieve the ultimate winner the public expects. The An unprecedented number of ballot papers sent to the mail This election, sparked by Covid-19, could cause significant delays. While some states begin counting postal ballots before Election Day, some wait until the polls close.
Initial results in states that prioritize personal vote count may show Mr. Trump is advancing, only for Biden to show up later as the mail count approaches.
If there is no clear winner at night, the count may take days or even weeks, although most officials in vital “swing” states have said they hope to announce the result by the end of the week after the election at the latest.
Regardless of the end result, President Trump will remain in the Oval Office after the election if he loses, he will officially become a “lame duck” president, with 73 days into his term before handing the keys to the White House.
On January 20, 2021, the new president will deliver his inaugural speech. This has traditionally been held on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building, but it remains unclear what shape the national address would take if the pandemic still posed a public health risk.
When is the time for opinion polls?
After the polls close in the US, broadcasters will use a variety of data, including exit polls, to try to predict the outcome.
Networks usually begin releasing data from polls before 6 PM EST (11 PM GMT).
Exit polls are opinion polls taken of people as soon as they leave the polling station. Not every voter is interviewed, so polls are not always accurate. It helps measure the outcome of an election, as the actual result can take days or even weeks to clear.
It is important to note that while the media will present case results to any of the candidates, the results are not official until endorsed by the individual states. The states technically have until December 14th, when Electoral College voters gather, to finalize the count.
How does the electoral college work?
In nearly every state, the candidate who receives the most votes will win the “electoral” vote for that state. Consequently, this candidate would obtain this number of seats in the Electoral College. Then, the elected personalities from each of the 50 states meet and vote for the president.
Thus, the structure of the Electoral College means that some states, known as “swing states”, carry more weight and nullify the popular vote. An example of this arose in the 2016 election, which saw Hillary Clinton win the popular vote but lost the presidential race because she failed to win the crucial swing states, thus losing the Electoral College vote.
A list of these important swing states is discussed below:
When do swing states announce their results?
Arizona
- 11 electoral seats.
- Despite being a traditional Republican stronghold, Trump won the state by only 3.5% in 2016. Democrats believe the demographic change in the state has given them a chance to turn it blue.
- Polls close at 7:00 pm local time (2am GMT). Officials plan to announce the preliminary results at around 8 PM local time (3 AM GMT).
Florida
- 29 electoral seats.
- While it is still technically possible for Trump to win without Florida, he will have to hang onto every other state he won in 2016 to secure his re-election – which is tough.
- Polling stations close at 7:00 pm local time (12:00 GMT). The first results are expected at around 8 PM local time (1 AM GMT).
Georgia
- 16 electoral seats.
- Demographic changes and increasing urban areas have made Georgia gradually less safe for Republicans in recent years.
- Polls close at 7:00 PM local time (12 AM GMT). Georgia only begins mail counting after the polls close, which means the result may not be apparent at night.
Michigan
- 16 electoral seats.
- Donald Trump, who was the closest state to running in 2016, has turned the Republican party against Hillary Clinton.
- Most polls close at 8.00 PM local time (1 AM GMT). Some jurisdictions count ballots in the mail before Election Day, but not all, which means statewide results are not expected until two days later.
Minnesota
- 10 electoral seats.
- Minnesota went to Hillary Clinton in 2016, but it was a close contest.
- Polls close at 8:00 pm local time (2am GMT). Initial results are expected shortly thereafter.
North Carolina
- 15 electoral seats.
- Some consider it a “necessity” for President Trump. If he loses here, that may indicate the Republican stronghold is slipping further south.
- Polling stations close at 7.30 pm local time (12.30 pm GMT). The state expects to announce the preliminary results with the close of the polls due to the high number of first voters.
Ohio
- 18 electoral seats.
- Donald Trump won eight points in Ohio in 2016, but it has been a major battleground this year, in part because the president lost support among suburban women in the state.
- Polling stations close at 7.30 pm local time (12.30 pm GMT). Mail ballots are not counted until Election Day, but Ohio expects early results to be announced at night.
Pennsylvania
- 20 electoral seats.
- Pennsylvania, previously a solid “Blue Wall” state for the Democrats, was overturned by Donald Trump in 2016. The two sides invested significant time and resources to win Keystone and the outcome here can determine the national election.
- Polls close at 8:00 PM local time (1 AM GMT). Ballot papers cannot be counted in the mail until Election Day: Officials hope to obtain a result in the following days.
Texas
- 38 electoral seats.
- The second largest state in terms of elective college voting, changing the demographics of Texas cities make them competitive.
- Most polls close at 7:00 pm local time (12 am GMT). Texas tends to release results early in the evening.
Wisconsin
- 10 electoral seats.
- In 2016, Donald Trump challenged pollsters to a surprise win in Wisconsin.
- Polls close at 8:00 PM local time (2 AM GMT). Officials expected an announcement on election night or soon after.
Read more: What happens if Donald Trump refuses to accept the defeat of the US election and goes quietly?
What are the other national races on Election Day?
Not only will the presidential race take place on November 3. All of the 435 members of the US House of Representatives are on the verge of re-election, along with nearly a third of the 100-member US Senate.
Democrats hope to maintain control of the House of Representatives as well as seize many Republican Senate seats, and perhaps even become the majority party in the House.
Winning the Senate majority, which Republicans currently have 53-47, would be a huge bounty for Democrats. The Senate has the power to veto the approval of legislation and business deals as well as to assert top government positions and judges.
