Throughout the election season and on Election Day, voters across the country cast their ballots. After the polls close, the process of counting votes begins. This process includes determining who won each race by comparing the total number of votes for each candidate with the number of ballots counted. It also involves verifying that every vote was cast and properly counted and that no clerical errors occurred. This process is conducted by local officials (typically at the level of a precinct) and may be observed by members of the public or by election observers.

Election results are announced on Election Night and in the days that follow. However, they are not official until they are certified by officials in each state. The certification process usually requires days (and sometimes weeks) to ensure that all votes have been properly counted and that no one has manipulated the numbers.

News outlets use data sources including exit polls, the number of early in-person and mail ballots, partial results as they come in from the field, and patterns from past elections to make projections about who will win each race. They then call a winner when their analysis makes them confident that they have determined the outcome accurately. These calls are unofficial and do not impact how ballots are counted.

For some individuals, a political or partisan loss is emotionally bruising and can lead to feelings of sadness and anxiety. They might experience difficulty concentrating or have intrusive thoughts that are related to their disappointment in the result. For this reason, some people turn to crisis hotlines.