On Nov. 5, election night may not be all suspense and drama as some winners could be declared before the first vote is tallied. The Associated Press will analyze data and factors to determine if a winner can be declared at poll closing time in uncontested or landslide races. Uncontested races where there is only one candidate on the ballot are common, as well as noncompetitive races in areas with a history of lopsided victories for a certain political party.
The AP will not declare a winner in a competitive race until enough votes are counted to make the outcome clear. The use of data sources such as AP VoteCast, which surveys voters and nonvoters, can help confirm results in noncompetitive races. Multiple factors such as voting history, voter registration statistics, and pre-Election Day polling will also be taken into account.
In states with multiple time zones, the AP will not declare a winner before the final poll closing time to ensure all votes are counted. In states with a history of one party dominating elections, the AP may call the race as soon as voting ends. The AP’s Explaining Election 2024 series aims to provide clarity about the U.S. election process. Private foundations support the AP’s efforts to enhance explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. The AP is responsible for all content in this regard.
Source
Photo credit www.bostonherald.com