As a result of this year’s unprecedented volume of elections—voting in the world’s four largest democracies and 27 EU member states, among others—it is easy to forget that election results are not final until after a lengthy canvassing process. This process ensures that all votes are counted and that no clerical errors were made. It also allows voters to change their choices and make sure that the right outcome was certified.
In most states, this process includes examining ballots by hand (or feeding them back into machines for a recount) to determine what each voter intended to mark on their ballot. This step is called a “hand recount.” If the vote margin between candidates is within a specific threshold, like 0.1%, the second-place candidate can request a recount.
In the US, it is very common for the initial totals reported on election night and in media reports to differ from the final certified results. This is normal and expected, because the initial totals do not include all ballots or ballots received by mail, and the counting process is ongoing. These differences can be explained by a variety of factors, including the types of ballots and seal allocation methods used, the length of time to count votes, and the number of days or weeks between election day and final results being declared. The way in which election officials communicate these changes to voters plays a critical role in voter confidence in the accuracy and legitimacy of election results.
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