When Will We Know Election Outcomes?

“On Tuesday evening, millions of Americans will tune in to watch election returns,” the New York Times reports.

“They shouldn’t hold their breath. If history is any guide, the full results of voting from all 50 states are not likely to be known by the time Tuesday turns to Wednesday. Experts say that for various reasons, it could take days and even weeks before results are known in states including Maine, Alaska, Arizona and California.”

“Races in those states might determine the balance of power in Congress — and they might not. It’s impossible to say if the nation will know before bedtime which party controls the House and the Senate. The chances are greater that control of the House will be known, given how tight virtually all of the key Senate races are this year, including in Alaska and Maine.”