The 2024 election is underway. Americans are going to the polls to vote for the president, 435 members of the House of Representatives and 34 Senators, and many local and state officials. We want to share some key information about how U.S. elections are structured and administered.

In the wake of the violence on January 6, 2021, and the false allegations of voter fraud that precipitated it and continue today, many of us remain concerned that elections may once again contribute to instability, mistrust, and even violence. We hope to share helpful information regarding our country’s election integrity so that we can better understand the processes, structures, and safeguards in place. At the same time, we remain concerned about voter suppression, voter intimidation, misinformation, and other deliberate efforts to marginalize and disenfranchise voters. Now let’s go step-by-step into the vote counting process.

What Happens When the Polls Close

Levels of anticipation and anxiety will be high leading up to Tuesday, November 5th, as polls close and results begin to come in. Congressional races determine which party controls the House and the Senate, and the resulting political agendas that may move forward in the 119^th Congress. The evening of November 5th, many Americans will watch the vote count trickle in. Some House and Senate races will be called if there is a decisive lead, depending on the demographics and the number of votes left to be counted in those states. Even so, it is important to note these “calls,” or “projections” as some media outlets will refer to them, are not the official result. Votes will continue to be counted even in races that have been called by media organizations, and official results and vote counts may still take several days or weeks.

Historically, most votes have been cast in person, either early or on Election Day itself. All the votes are then counted, and results are announced when it is clear who the winner is, as long as the margin is larger than any mail-in or absentee ballots that remain outstanding. Due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to voting laws in many states, the prevalence of mail-in and early voting has expanded significantly, though may not match the levels we saw in 2020. While mail-in ballots in all jurisdictions count just the same as an in-person vote (contrary to the myth that states only count mail-in ballots if the result is close), mail-in ballots do require verification processes that differ from that of in-person ballots. This process usually involves a name and signature check that authenticates the voter’s identity. This can add time to counting those votes, and in close races, may result in a delay in unofficial “calls” and official counts for those races.

Many states allow local election officials to begin the process of verifying mail-in ballots any number of days *before* Election Day, to ensure both that they are ready to be counted once the polls close and that voters can “cure” their ballots, or correct them if any mistakes were made, if allowed by local law. Jurisdictions that allow election officials to verify mail-in ballots before Election Day, such as Florida, will likely report almost all their results within a few hours of polls closing on November 5th.

However, six states do not allow election officials to begin this verification process until November 5^th. Early data shows that mail-in voting will continue to be popular, and it is almost certain that we will not receive enough information on election night to make solid projections about the winners of all races in these six states, assuming the results in races are sufficiently close. These six states will, however, announce the in-person votes they received during in-person early voting (if they allow early voting) and from those who voted in person on Election Day itself. It is important to note this will not be a complete count, and the race winners in those states may differ from those “in the lead” based just on the count of in-person voting. These six states will still have many uncounted mail-in ballots left to verify, tabulate, and announce.

There may be closely contested state and local races that will take weeks to conclusively determine. As we have seen in previous elections, delayed results are not an indication of a problem. To the contrary, in the past, delays demonstrated that election officials were doing their jobs and thoroughly counting and checking each ballot, following procedures in place precisely to ensure accurate tabulation of votes. This may be frustrating for all of us eagerly awaiting election results, moreover, because we are used to more immediate responses through social media, but the slowness is likely a sign that the checks and balances in the system are working.

Pennsylvania is among the six states that do not allow mail-in vote processing until Election Day. Pennsylvania is a “swing state” for the presidential race, which may play a key role in the Electoral College count and who becomes president. Assuming polls are accurate, which shows the two candidates closely tied, the allocation of Pennsylvania’s electoral college votes may not be determined until days after Election Day.

Even if some results are called on Election Day, mail-in ballots will continue to be counted for all races, including congressional, state, and local races. To reiterate, we should expect to wait a few days or even weeks in some locations for accurate election results to come in for every race.

The National Conference of State Legislatures has compiled a handy guide to inform voters about when mail-in vote processing can begin in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The Calendar Between November 5 Election Day and January 20 Inauguration Day

The Electoral Count Reform Act, which General Convention supported to address concerns about the 2020 election certification process, was passed in 2022. It strengthened electoral security and made a repeat of the January 6th violence less likely. While the presidential election is on the same ballot as other federal, state, and local elections, it is administered differently. The timeline of key dates relating to the certification of the presidential election follows:

• November 5, 2024 – Election Day, the last day to vote in the 2024 election.
• December 11, 2024 – The election certification deadline. This date is defined as the deadline for states to issue certificates of ascertainment. One certificate must be sent to the Archivist of the United States. Each State must retain six original certificates of ascertainment to provide to electors for the meeting of electors. This date must be at least six days before the meeting of the Electoral College.
• December 17, 2024 – The Electoral College from each state meets to select the new president and vice president. Electors will pair their votes with the retained certificates of ascertainment.
• December 25, 2024 – The designated state and federal officials must receive their paired votes and certificates of ascertainment. This date is defined as “no later than the fourth Wednesday in December.”
• On or before January 3, 2025 – The Archivist of the United States transfers the certificates of ascertainment to Congress as they are requested. This transfer can occur any time after December 25 and must be completed by January 3, 2025.
• January 6, 2025 – A joint session of Congress will meet to count the Electoral College votes. The vice president (Kamala Harris) presides over the session. The president of the Senate, the Archivist of the United States, and other designated officials must have Electoral College votes in hand at this time.
• January 20, 2025 – The new president and vice president of the United States are sworn into office.

Post-Election Litigation

In the weeks following Election Day, we should also expect litigation to come up for various reasons and in various parts of our decentralized election system. As with any election, it is difficult to predict exactly what issues will be contested, but it is commonplace in our election processes and not a sign of failure.

Voter Fraud Is Difficult

U.S. election officials have instituted safeguards that make it exceedingly difficult to successfully carry out fraudulent voting. Such protective measures are multi-layered, ensuring the security of our election. For example, some have cast suspicion of nefarious actors printing fake ballots to send into voting precincts. Mail-in ballots are printed on special stock not commercially available, just one factor making it nearly impossible for malevolent actors to print fake ballots. Each ballot has a unique barcode that election officials will scan to ensure voters cannot vote more than once. Stringent safeguards already exist to prevent fraudsters from swaying an election.

This inventory produced by the Brennan Center for Justice catalogs a wide array of academic studies that attest to the fact that voter fraud hardly ever happens. Indeed, many instances of what we would consider “voter fraud” are examples of voter *mistakes* – someone unintentionally voting in the wrong precinct, or a former felon mistakenly thinking they are permitted to vote when they are not.

In the post-election period, it will be essential for trusted civil society and faith organizations like The Episcopal Church to respond with wisdom and patience. As The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, we will find trusted sources to keep you updated on what is occurring; please check back regularly for updates. We pray that our church can always be a voice for peace and justice. We pray for a free and fair election, and we pray that all Americans accept the result of the election. We also call on both major political parties to do the same and encourage politicians in both parties to support our electoral process.

The Episcopal Church has partnered with 866-OUR-VOTE to help raise awareness about their voter protection information and hotline. Please let people in your community know about their resources to help people respond if they are confronted with difficulties or lack of clarity casting their vote.

The National Association of Secretaries of State, the oldest voluntary association of state-level elected officials, has been working with various federal and state government agencies to ensure the safety and protection of the election process. The protective measures taken include election cybersecurity, patrol of election places, and online monitoring of threats made towards election officials. You can also listen to our podcast with former president of NASS, Secretary Scott Schwab of Kansas.

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations will be hosting Election Night Virtual Prayers from 8-10 PM EST on November 5, 2024. We invite you to come and hold space as various speakers pray for a safe, violence-free election. You can join via Zoom or our EPPN Facebook page.