Direct answer: It depends on the jurisdiction and the specific election you’re asking about. In most places, vote counting begins after polls close on Election Day, with preliminary results released that night, followed by ongoing canvassing and final certified results days to weeks later. For U.S. federal elections, counties typically post initial results on Election Night and may provide updates as ballots are tallied; final certified tallies arrive after the canvass period. For Canadian federal elections, counting generally starts after polls close, with preliminary results posted on election night and final validated results released after ongoing counting and verification. If you can share:

• the country or state/province and the specific election (e.g., local, regional, or national),
• and the exact date of the election you’re asking about,

I can give you a precise timeline of when counting starts, when preliminary results are expected, and when final certified results are typically published.