Here’s what we will — and won’t — know on election night in Northern California
San Francisco is expected to release results slowly, while other Bay Area counties speed up their counting.
The first batch of election results is expected to be released around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. But depending on where you live in Northern California, those results may not include many votes cast on Election Day.
Why the difference?
It comes down to how each county processes and counts ballots. Some counties, like Alameda and Santa Clara, have invested in high-speed ballot-counting machines that can quickly scan and tabulate votes. Other counties, like San Francisco, still rely on a more manual process that takes longer.
In San Francisco, for example, ballots are first sorted by precinct and then counted by hand. This process can take several days, especially if there is a large number of absentee ballots that need to be processed.
As a result, San Francisco is not expected to release complete results on election night. The city’s Department of Elections has said it could take up to two weeks to count all of the votes.
In contrast, Alameda and Santa Clara counties are expected to release most of their results on election night. These counties have invested in high-speed ballot-counting machines that can scan and tabulate votes much faster than hand-counting.
In addition to the speed of counting, there are other factors that could affect when results are released. For example, if there is a close race, the county may need to conduct a recount, which could further delay the release of results.
What to expect on election night
Here is a general timeline of what to expect on election night in Northern California:
- 8 p.m.: The first batch of results is expected to be released.
- 10 p.m.: More results are expected to be released, but San Francisco may still be reporting only a small percentage of its votes.
- 12 a.m.: Most counties are expected to have released the majority of their results, but San Francisco may still be counting.
- The following days: San Francisco is expected to continue releasing results over the next several days.
It is important to remember that these are just estimates. The actual timeline may vary depending on a number of factors.
What we will know on election night
On election night, we will know the results of most of the major races in Northern California. This includes the races for governor, U.S. Senate, and Congress.
We will also know the results of many of the local races, such as mayor and city council.
What we won’t know on election night
There are a few things we will not know on election night.
- The final results of the San Francisco races.
- The results of any close races that may require a recount.
- The results of any provisional ballots that need to be processed.
It is important to be patient and wait for the final results to be released. The outcome of some races may not be known for several days or even weeks.
