On Tuesday, November 5, the American people will go to the polls to vote for who they want to become their country’s 47th president. She will either be the first woman to hold this position, or a rather greedy guy Already the 45th American president.

The votes will all be quickly counted, the winner will be announced immediately, everyone will accept the decision and it will all end with friendly handshakes, smiles and well wishes.

The next day, the new POTUS will ask the Pickfords to move all their equipment to the White House and they will begin four years of governing their country responsibly; without any corruption or warmongering.

Of course, that won’t be the case. If we were to try to tell you that all of this is true, we’d probably see the Independent Press Standards Organization come to the office for a quick chat.

The immediate aftermath of a US presidential election can be – and often is – complete and utter chaos. Will this be the case this time? Well, that will probably depend on the outcome.

On November 6, you may have some questions about what happened, what is happening, and – most importantly – what is about to happen. We tried to anticipate some of these requests…

How do we officially know who won the elections?

The same way it works here in the UK, on ​​election night the results are released as the votes are counted. Major television news networks and online news sites make projections based on early results and exit polls.

However, these projections are not official. Far from it. States continue to count and verify ballots well after Election Day and Night, especially mail-in and absentee ballots. This may take days.

The official process is based on a system called “electoral college‘, where voters vote based on state results. Until all votes are certified at the state level, the results remain unofficial, although a clear winner seems very likely.

How long will it take for a winner to be named?

Usually a winner is announced overnight or the next day. Generally via an admission of defeat on the part of the other candidate who must concede in view of the overwhelming figures and the balance of probabilities.

Election results can sometimes be delayed due to factors such as mail-in ballots, which tend to take longer to process. Another potential delay comes from very close races Swing States. Recounts are likely if the margins are truly tight, which would lengthen the timeline of events even further.

In 2020, increased mail-in voting meant it took several days to declare a winner. And from 2000, recounts and all kinds of legal battles delayed the announcement of the results by more than a month.

Recounts in key battleground states could play a decisive role here too this year, especially if the margins are razor-thin. So – and this can be quite frustrating – it could take days or even weeks for an official winner to be named.

Hopefully that’s not the case, but it’s a distinct possibility given how tight things seem this time around.

When will the new president be sworn in?

The new president will be sworn in on Inauguration Day, which will take place on January 20, 2025. This will happen regardless of any delay in declaring the election winner. In the meantime, Joe Biden (remember this guy?!) technically remains president.

The transition period between November and January allows the new administration to prepare to govern. Give them a chance to form a cabinet and write some policies. It also, presumably, gives Joe and Jill Biden time to take down the White House Christmas tree, wrap up all their baubles, and return home to Delaware to enjoy their retirement.

Even if legal battles or recounts extend beyond November, the swearing-in date is fixed and delineated, ensuring a smooth transfer of power once all votes are certified and all disputes resolved.

What happens if the result is delayed for any reason?

If the election result is delayed due to very close margins, a number of recounts, or an unusually high volume of mail-in ballots, uncertainty may persist again and again.

This delay could slow down the transition process to some extent, as the new administration will not be able to fully begin its work until the outcome is confirmed. It can also impact governance, creating a period of limbo where key decisions or policies may be postponed until the ultimate winner is officially named.

But more often than not, it results in a permanent state of media purgatory when everyone is constantly speculating about who will get the job. Something that will quickly become quite tedious.

Could there be legal challenges?

Legal challenges are entirely possible, especially if the results are very close or even contested in one or more key states. Lawsuits may be filed regarding voting irregularities, the validity of absentee ballots, or the specifics of recount procedures.

These legal battles can delay the final outcome as courts decide whether to uphold the claims. In close races, such challenges could extend the time to certify election results, impacting the entire process.

Could Trump challenge the results if he loses?

You probably already know the answer to this question, right? Yes, there is every chance that if he loses the election, Donald Trump could – quite aggressively – challenge the draw and refuse to accept the numbers.

It could, for example, start by alleging electoral fraud or some other form of irregularity. This could lead to legal challenges that would delay the official declaration of results.

In 2020, his refusal to concede sparked numerous lawsuits, although most were fairly quickly and easily dismissed. There is therefore a very recent precedent.

What could happen if the American people refused to accept the outcome?

If voters refuse to accept the results of the election, there is a very real risk of significant civil unrest, particularly among – as you might imagine – supporters of the losing candidate.

The protests could escalate into demonstrations and horrific events reminiscent of the unrest seen after the 2020 election, raising concerns about political violence and public safety.

What will happen? Well, who knows? But if it’s anything like the countryside, it’s going to be wild.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check out our news page.

MORE: 14-year-old boy committed suicide after ‘falling in love’ with AI chatbot

MORE: Polling guru rivaling ‘Nostradamus’ reveals ‘knee-jerk’ prediction on whether Trump or Harris will win

MORE: Former culture secretary calls Trump’s complaint against Labor a ‘political stunt’

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.