Be ready for the day after the election

What comes after November 5th?

After months of postcards, phone banks, discussions and then casting your ballot, you’ve done the hard work to make your voice heard in 2024.

As Election Day approaches, the landscape ahead may be fraught with uncertainty—delayed results, contested outcomes, and even concerns about safety. Yet, amidst this waiting game, there’s a chance to harness that energy and commitment.

Here’s how to prepare to navigate this time with optimism, knowing that our efforts have the power to shape the future.

[5-minute read]

Expect no clear winner on Election Night

As news coverage begins on election day, each state’s election reporting will be influenced by how it counts votes, especially those that come in by mail.

Some states allow the counting to begin before the polls close. In this instance, early results will tend to lean Democratic. As polls start to close, in-person voting results, which tend to lean Republican, will start coming in from counties and cities across the country. In other states, mail-in ballots are counted after polls close so initial results that lean Republican initially will start to show more Democratic votes.

These switches from one party to another isn’t evidence of fraud, but a result of each state’s different procedures for reporting outcomes. Some taking up to a week. Real-time election watchers should also remember that, unlike a sports match, the outcome isn’t known at the final buzzer.

Reporting isn’t official, either. According to the Brennan Center, “Media organizations, unlike election officials, call races when they believe enough unofficial vote-counting information is released to determine the eventual winner. [However,] the results on election night are always unofficial.”

What you can do: Prepare to go to bed without knowing the final result. The presidential winner will likely take 24 hours or more to be called. 

Expect a contested presidential win

It is a well-known fact that only citizens who are registered voters can cast a ballot. We also know with certainty that an extremely small number of people illegally cast a second ballot. To prevent this, many states track when a ballot is issued and when a person has voted, so that voting twice is nearly impossible without getting caught.

Despite these realities, the Republican candidate has been promoting unsubstantiated theories that non-citizens are voting, that the Democratic candidate was illegally nominated, and claiming in advance that his loss will be due to unsubstantiated fraud. Today, 40% of Republicans still believe that the 2020 election was stolen as a result of voter fraud. For those reasons, some Americans will be skeptical of outcomes. Post-election lawsuits contesting the election result are very likely. This litigation (however unfounded) could also cause delays in the final call. 

What can you do: Post the following messages on your social accounts to reduce skepticism and increase trust in the electoral process. 

• No need to worry about whether your ballot is counted or lost. Jus track your mail-in ballot here: https://www.vote.org/ballot-tracker-tools/ 
• The presidential race is expected to be close. Mailed ballots take longer to count due to the time it takes to physically open envelopes and verify voter information. A slow-to-arrive announcement of the presidential winner is not evidence of fraud. It means that election officials are counting every vote carefully and securely. 
• The 64 lawsuits Trump filed to contest his 2020 loss on the basis of fraud failed or were dismissed for lack of evidence. Trust election officials to do their job.

Prepare for violence

Concern about election-related violence is in the minds of most Americans of both parties. In the last several years, hundreds of public officials have been threatened, endured attempted kidnapping, or survived assassination attempts by angry Americans. It is safe to assume that these actions are an indicator of future behavior.

At present, roughly 10% of Americans of both parties say they would attend a protest even if it turned violent. Another poll showed that 33% of Republicans and 13% of Democrats believe that “American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save the country.” This year, the Brennan Center found that 38% of American election officials have been threatened, harassed, or abused by Americans angry about voting fraud (although these claims have no basis in reality).

Whether individuals target election workers or an armed mob threatens members of Congress, being prepared for violence will lessen the shock if it occurs.

What you can do: Contact your governor (look up).

Script: Hi, I’m reaching out from [ZIP] concerned about the trend of threats toward election officials. I’m asking you to do two things. First, make a public statement condemning all political violence today—especially against election officials and counting facilities—because it is illegal, immoral and anti-American. Secondly, use all resources at your disposal to ensure the physical security of election workers and the ballots themselves from Election Day to its certification by Congress on Jan. 6, 2025. Thank you.

Final thoughts

There’s no doubt that we’re living in uncertain times. While concerns about the election and its outcome loom large, preparing ourselves and encouraging others to vote ensures that our voices are heard—no matter how long it takes to reach a final outcome.

Let’s stay hopeful and committed to the democratic process.

Want more to do? Check out our Election Bingo Game which lists 25 things you can do before the election to encourage others to vote.