Then it’s clear who won

The first votes have now been counted and, according to the forecast, Trump will win in the states of Kentucky and Indiana.

Harris, in turn, looks set to win in the state of Vermont.

arrow The first election results have arrived.

Today is an election in the USA – but it will be some time before we have a final election result.

At 04:17 Swedish time, 22 states were provisionally completed. Trump has won 178 Electors and Harris has 91 Electors. It takes 270 to win.

Choice in many time zones

Because the country has so many different time zones, it varies both when the premises open and close in the different states.

At 15.00 on Monday Swedish time, the last polling station had opened.

Then it takes time for the first one to close. And then it’s in Indiana. At midnight on Tuesday Swedish time, premises close in parts of the state. But there are two time zones, at 01.00 Swedish time the last venue has closed.

Alaska is the very last state out. There are also two time zones, areas with Pacific time close at 06.00 and others at 07.00 on Monday Swedish time.

Historically, it has varied when a result is available. But it may be clear before the last state has finished counting the votes.

In 2008, the result was ready at 04.58 the following morning, Swedish time. In 2020, it was only clear three days after election day.

Then the election results can be clear

However, a preliminary polling station survey is published much earlier in the evening. When varies, but ABC, for example, publishes its preliminary figures around 11:45 p.m. Swedish time.

The reason why a result can be clear before the last vote is counted is because of the important wave master states. If the result is clear there, the election can be decided.

Who wins the election does not depend on who gets the most votes nationally – but the most electors. The candidate who receives the most votes in a state wins all of its electors, except in Maine and Nebraska where it is distributed proportionally.

The wave master states decide

This year, the wave champion states are Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. As well as a Nebraska electoral district.

Several channels will broadcast vigils live during election night. TV4 will broadcast a 37-hour vigil on November 5 and 6. You can find it TV4 Play or on linear television.

SVT has a broadcast before the vigil that runs from 8.00-9.00 p.m. From 10.00 p.m. to 10.00 a.m., SVT broadcasts an election watch in SVT Play and SVT2. From 06:00 in the morning, the broadcast switches to SVT1.