After the presidential elections, when do you find out who won the elections?

We'll probably know by 11pm ET tomorrow night.

Usually, by late evening or early the next day, it is clear who won - but it could take much longer as it did in 2000. 48 out of the 50 states cast their Electoral Votes on an all or nothing basis - So in 2000, when it was finally determined that George W. Bush had won Florida by about 500 votes, he was awarded all of that state's Electoral Votes.

A problem like we had in Florida in 2000, is more likely to happen again under the current Electoral vote system, than it would be if the President was elected by a National Popular Vote - because there will always be at least one state where the election was very close even if the winner of the national popular vote is clear.

If you want to get real technical, not until Jan 6 when the electoral college results are in:

January 6, 2009

Counting Electoral Votes in Congress

The Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral votes (Congress may pass a law to change the date). The President of the Senate is the presiding officer. If a Senator and a House member jointly submit an objection, each House would retire to its chamber to consider it. The President and Vice President must achieve a majority of electoral votes (270) to be elected. In the absence of a majority, the House selects the President, and the Senate selects the Vice President. If a State submits conflicting sets of electoral votes to Congress, the two Houses acting concurrently may accept or reject the votes. If they do not concur, the votes of the electors certified by the Governor of the State would be counted in Congress.

It could be before California even closes it's polls at 11pm PST. Or after that, or the next morning, or in the case of the 2000 election, the following month. Let's hope we don't have a repeat of that nightmare.

The NEWS blatherers will generally spill the word both who won and in the case of elections such as the 2000 election who won and who actually got the door prize. Results should be in by 8PM Eastern American Time..

Peace/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Stephenopoulos on ABC said probably tomorrow morning but it really depends on which battleground states in the east Obama gets. The first one to watch is Pennsylvania, then Virginia, etc. You might be able to tell early if Obama gets these states.

McCain '08

jrbw

Jeff, we "old people" remember that McCain signed a "confession" as a war criminal for the North Vietnamese. We remember that doing so, unlike many PATRIOTIC American POWs who refused to do so, makes him a traitor - and we'd rather vote for anyone other than for a traitor. Especially those of us "old people" who fought in the same war McCain fought in - and WEREN'T traitors.

The final results, if it's not close enough to contest, will become available in the small hours of Wednesday morning. If it is, who knows?

If Obama wins Virginia by a landslide then we might know as early as 7:01 PM eastern time. McCain simply cannot win without Virginia.

Because some precincts come in late, we probably won't know until early morning, Nov. 5.

After all the states have submitted their votes for each party,probably won't be till after midnight or (dread) later

usually 10:30 - 1:00. check your news networks tuesday night