Amid a volatile campaign, voters delivered a strong message to politicians that the economy is their top priority. Exit polls confirmed that the economy influenced voters in key states and boosted Republican chances of winning a majority in the Senate, allowing Republicans to pass legislation without opposition (known as a filibuster).
News outlets collect unofficial results in real time at local counting locations and through sources like government websites. These data inform their predictions of a winner, which are called “calls.” This collection process can continue for days (and sometimes weeks) after Election Day until all ballots have been counted and certified. News outlets check their predictions against full results once they are available to ensure accuracy.
Regardless of how close a race appears to be, election officials never release official results until they are certified by the state board of elections. This can take several days, and often feels like an eternity for those who are waiting for their candidate’s name to be called. In the meantime, people turn to media outlets for information they trust. This can lead to feelings of stress and anxiety — especially when it seems that the predictions being made by news outlets are not accurate. Research suggests that consuming multiple trusted sources of information can help mitigate these feelings. If you’re watching the results, we encourage you to consider adding AP or Reuters to your go-to list of election resources and to steer clear of sensational and dramatic headlines on TikTok, Facebook, and X.