US elections: When to expect ballot results from the states that will decide the election

The world may not know who won the US presidency until weeks after election day because of the high number of mail-in ballots this year

Supporters wait for US President Donald Trump to disembark Air Force One at a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

U.S. President Donald Trump reacts after speaking during a campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

A woman attends U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

Florida Governor Ron DeDantis throws hats to the crowd at a rally for US President Donald J. Trump in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

US President Donald J. Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

A supporter of US President Donald J. Trump attends a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

US President Donald J. Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November 2020. EPA

A young child in costume as US President Donald J. Trump as supporters wait for President Trump to speak during a campaign rally in Pensacola, Florida, USA. The United States will hold its presidential election on 03 November. EPA

Supporters watch as U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks at a campaign event at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

Supporters at a campaign event for U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

Senate candidate Jon Ossoff waves before U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) spoke at a campaign event at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS

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A World War II veteran salutes during U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rally at The Villages Polo Club in The Villages, Florida, U.S. REUTERS

While US election day officially falls on November 3, voters in several key swing states that will determine the next president have already begun casting their ballots by mail and in person. The unusually high volume of mail-in ballots this year – and delays in the US postal system – as Covid-19 ravages the United States means there is a high probability that the election results will not be fully available until several weeks after election day.

The winner of the national popular vote does not necessarily win the presidency because of the electoral college system. Instead, each state has a certain number of “electors” based on population. These electors typically choose the next US president based on whichever candidate won the plurality of their state’s popular vote.

The majority of states reliably vote Republican or Democratic every year, so this year’s election hinges on a small slice of voters in as many as 14 battleground states. Each state has wide discretion over its own voting rules and ballots. Early in-person voting and mail-in voting have already started in many of these key states.

Some states may announce a winner on election night, while others will have to wait longer to fully count the mail-in ballots. Here are the key deadlines for in-person and mail-in voting in each of the 14 battleground states:

No ballots accepted after election day

These states will not accept any mail-in ballots that arrive after November 3, increasing the odds that they could announce a winner on election night – if they can count the ballots that arrive by post quickly enough.

Florida

· Early voting: October 19-November 1

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 24

Arizona

· Early voting: October 7-October 30

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 23

Colorado

· Early voting: October 19-November 2

· Every registered voter will receive a mail-in ballot

New Hampshire

· No early voting

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: November 2

Ballot arrival date pending litigation

Ongoing litigation will ultimately determine the cut-off date for these states to count ballots that arrive after election day. Regardless of the pending court decisions, ballots in each of these states must be postmarked by November 3 in order to count.

Pennsylvania

· Early voting: September 14-October 27

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 27

· Current ballot arrival deadline: November 6

Wisconsin

· Early voting: October 20-November 1

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 29

· Current ballot arrival deadline: November 3

North Carolina

· Early voting: October 15-October 31

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 27

· Current ballot arrival deadline: November 6

Georgia

· Early voting: October 12-October 30

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 30

· Current ballot arrival deadline: November 3

Ballots accepted after election day

These states will accept mail-in ballots that arrive after November 3, decreasing the odds that they could announce a winner on election night. Ballots must be postmarked by either November 2 or November 3, depending on the state, in order to count.

Michigan

· Early voting: September 24-November 2

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 30

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 17

Ohio

· Early voting: October 6-November 2

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 31

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 13

Nevada

· Early voting: October 17-October 30

· Every registered voter will receive a mail-in ballot

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 10

Minnesota

· Early voting: September 18-November 2

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: November 2

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 10

Virginia

· Early voting: September 18-October 31

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 23

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 6

Texas

· Early voting: October 13-October 30

· Mail-in ballot request deadline: October 23

· Ballot arrival deadline: November 4