As Election Day comes to a close, voters are eager to know who won their race. However, election results that are reported on election night or in the days following Election Day are only the beginning of the ballot counting process. The final, certified election results only occur after the canvass and other steps are complete. Election officials need to be careful about how they communicate these final results to the public, as their choice can influence the confidence voters have in the process and the outcome.
As our study reveals, there are many steps that are required to get accurate election results and the timing of these events can have major implications for voters’ mental health. This is especially true when the election results don’t align with the voters’ hopes and dreams. For example, the results of a political campaign can trigger a range of emotions that might cause people to withdraw from friends and family or to seek out self-destructive behaviors. These symptoms are often described as “election stress,” and it is important to recognize that while this type of stress isn’t a diagnosis, it can be harmful.
To help manage expectations about how quickly election results are available, voters can follow the progress of their local ballots through a number of different channels, including social media or news websites. Voters can also check with trusted sources, such as AP or Reuters, instead of sensational outlets, like TikTok or Facebook, which may not always provide reliable information.