The timing for knowing who won an election depends on the specific election and location. Generally:
- For major U.S. elections like the presidential election, results start to come in after polls close on election day, but with increased mail-in voting, it can take several days to a week or more for all votes to be counted and winners projected. For example, 2020 results took until the Saturday after Election Day to project a winner.
- For some local elections, results can start coming in overnight after voting day and be finalized the next day or shortly afterward.
- For specific elections like the 2025 Polish presidential election, the vote takes place on a specified date (e.g., May 18 and a second round on June 1), and projected results of the exit polls are announced after voting closes that day at 9:00 PM CEST.
So, the exact time when you will know who won an election varies with the election type, location, and vote-counting procedures, but typically preliminary results come out on or shortly after election day, with final certified results taking longer. If you have a particular election in mind, providing its name or country could give more precise timing.
