The Pennsylvania Department of State recently announced that the results of the state’s upcoming election may not be available on election night. The department emphasized in a social media post that delays in counting are expected, stating, “Pennsylvanians won’t always know the final results of all races on election night. Any changes in results that occur as counties continue to count ballots are not evidence that an election is ‘rigged.’” The post also directed readers to a website focused on fact-checking information related to Pennsylvania’s election process.

This announcement recalls the 2020 election, where early results initially suggested a lead for then-President Donald Trump. However, as mail-in ballots were counted, the race shifted in favor of Joe Biden, who was ultimately declared the winner in Pennsylvania. The extended counting process frustrated many observers who felt that election results should be available promptly after polls close.

Efforts to expedite the ballot counting process were discussed in Pennsylvania’s legislature, but no legislation allowing for pre-canvassing of ballots—an action that could have accelerated the process—was passed before the legislative session ended. Although the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a related initiative in May, it did not progress further, according to reports from The Washington Post.

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As a critical battleground state, Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are likely to be pivotal in determining the outcome of the presidential race. If the election is closely contested, it may take several days before the final results are known, especially if Pennsylvania’s vote is a deciding factor.

Rachel Orey, an elections expert with the Bipartisan Policy Center, noted the potential for delays, explaining, “If the electoral college comes down to Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, we might still face a long period where we don’t know the winner.”

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Polls have shown former President Trump maintaining a lead over President Biden in Pennsylvania throughout the year, though his advantage has narrowed when compared to Vice President Kamala Harris. An August poll from Trafalgar had Trump ahead by two points against Harris, while a New York Times/Siena poll showed Harris leading by four points, indicating that the race in Pennsylvania could be extremely close.