“Charted: Why early midterm results can be misleading”

Key points

• Initial votes counted on election night often show a redder tilt than final results.
• AP and Edison Research data show the final outcome can take days to determine.
• Historical examples: House and Senate calls delayed by days in multiple elections.
• States count ballots at different speeds; early counts depend on ballot type and counties.
• Final results require many ballots beyond Election Day, with counting continuing into the next days.