Why can the US election vote count take so long? What to know in 500 words

US states determine ballot counting procedures in federal elections, with varying count times fuelling misinformation.

When will we know how many votes were cast for Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the United States presidential election on November 5?

It depends — and that’s normal.

In the US, there is no federal vote-counting process. Instead, counting procedures are left up to the states, and it potentially can take weeks for a final official tally to be released.

However, a clear presidential winner typically emerges within hours or days of polls closing on election day.

The lag between media organisations “calling” an election, and the official certification process can be confusing to voters.