As voters around the world cast ballots in elections for a new parliament, governor, or mayor, election officials prepare to process and make official the results of those votes. The final outcome of an election depends on how well a specific set of rules are followed by voters, elections officials, and the public at large.
For example, electoral thresholds that prevent political parties that do not cross a certain percentage of the vote from entering a government should be clearly stated in any official result announcement. This ensures that the voters understand how official results were determined. It also helps avoid confusion about who won the election.
Similarly, the point at which a candidate or party crosses a threshold to become the dominant winner of an election should be clear in any official result announcement. This again reduces confusion and allows for the effective functioning of democracy.
As elections unfold in the United States and throughout the world, election polls play a critical role for candidates, campaign strategists, political consultants, and journalists. Using accurate sampling techniques, polls can accurately predict the likely election outcome based on internal campaign dialectic and external electoral factors.
However, it is not until states, territories, and the District of Columbia finalize or certify election results that an apparent winner can be declared. This can take several weeks or even months at the local and state levels, depending on the contest. If a president-elect cannot be identified by Inauguration Day, Congress determines who will act as president (or vice president). Despite the timeframe, the process for certifying results is an important part of ensuring that all votes are counted.
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