When is the president announced in 2020?

The 2020 election was held on November 3, but the US media did not declare Joe Biden the clear winner until the late morning of November 7, after the Pennsylvania result became clearer.

In other elections, voters had to wait shorter for the results.

For instance, in 2016, when Donald Trump won, he was declared the winner shortly before 3:00 am (EST), the day after the election.

Meanwhile, when Barack Obama secured a second term in 2012, his victory was projected the same night America went to vote.

However, the election in 2000 — George W Bush v Al Gore — was a noteworthy exception.

Voting was held on November 7, but the two campaigns went to war over a neck and neck contest in Florida and the outcome was not decided until December 12.

The US Supreme Court finally voted to end the state’s recount procedure, which left Bush in place as the winner which remains a controversy till date.

Americans are set to go to the polls today, November 5, to elect their next leader, and the leader of the free world.

The incumbent vice-president Democrat Kamala Harris and former president Republican Donald Trump have been running side by side for weeks.

Even though election results have sometimes been declared within hours of the closing of the polls, however, the close contest this year could lead to a longer wait, especially due to the swing states.

The tight race in several states suggests that the American media houses will wait longer than usual before projecting who won.

Narrow wins would also lead to recounts. In key swing state Pennsylvania, for instance, a state-wide recount would be required if there is a half-percentage-point difference.

In 2020, the difference was a little over 1.1 percentage points.