Election 2024: How can I follow the official election results in key states on November 5?

We're quickly approaching Election Day 2024, and while news outlets are sure to report widely on every development, you can cut through that noise by going straight to the source and getting results from official websites in key states.

Election Day takes place on Tuesday, November 5th and is the focus of the presidential race this year between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. As in the last election cycle, experts are predicting a close race that will depend on the results of a handful of key battleground states. High voter turnout is also expected this year: In the USA, over 66 million people have voted early so far, and states like Georgia are already reporting record-breaking numbers.

Read on to find out where to find official Election Day updates. Plus, learn how to see what's on your ballot this year and whether your state still allows early voting.

What are the key battleground states in 2024?

Due to the mechanics of the Electoral College system, it has often been the case in recent decades that presidential elections are ultimately decided by a handful of “battleground states,” also known as “swing states.” These are states whose populations are more evenly divided between Democratic and Republican voters than most other states, making it more likely that they could swing one way or the other during a presidential election and decide the outcome.

This year, seven states are considered key battlegrounds: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These are the states whose results will most likely draw the most attention on Election Day.

Where can I get official voting results for the key battleground states?

For each of these states, you can find Election Day results online at an official state government website, usually the Secretary of State's website, but possibly also the state Board of Elections website. You can check the results for each battleground state below:

When will we find out the winner of the 2024 presidential election?

Don't expect final results when the first polls close on the East Coast at 6:00 p.m. ET. In 2020, election precautions and measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the closeness of the race overall, were highlighted as reasons why it took until the Saturday after Election Day for the outcome of the presidential race to be called.

This year, voters are once again being warned not to expect a clear result by the end of Election Day, November 5, as the race appears to be close. The closer an election gets in a particular state, the longer it takes for enough ballots to be counted to produce the final result. While we likely won't wait until then for the results, states must certify their election results by December 11th.

To learn more about the election, learn how each candidate stands on the child tax credit and how the election could change the way we use the internet.