Short answer: Election results typically begin appearing on election night, with initial unofficial tallies posted as precincts report. The exact timing varies by state and race, but some results are often available within hours of polls closing, while final certified results can take days to weeks in close contests. Details to help you plan

• Factors that influence timing
  • When ballots are counted: some states start counting in-person votes as polls close, others wait until voting ends; mail-in ballots may be counted later or in batches.
  • Provisional and out-of-state ballots: verification steps can delay final numbers.
  • Race competitiveness: close contests tend to take longer to call.
• Typical patterns by region
  • In fast-reporting states or races with clear early leads, initial results may show winners within a few hours after polls close.
  • In battleground or mail-heavy states, updates may come in increments through the night, with decisive calls sometimes occurring late.
• What to watch for
  • Official election night results dashboards from state or county election offices.
  • News outlets’ live blogs that track ballot drop-offs and provide updates as counties report.
  • Certification timelines from state election authorities, which mark when results become official.

If you’d like, specify your location (state or county) and which races you care about (presidential, gubernatorial, congressional, local measures), and I can give you a more precise, state-by-state outline of typical timing and where to watch updates.