Why some 2026 races won't be decided on election night, and why that doesn't mean foul play

Key Points:

• Election experts warn that control of the House and Senate may not be clear on election night due to close races and the time needed to count all ballots, especially mail-in votes, which is normal and not indicative of fraud.
• Candidates who believe they are losing may spread misinformation about election integrity, with experts predicting former President Trump may do so again as he did in 2020.
• The counting process varies by state, with some states like California and Pennsylvania taking longer due to mail-in ballot verification and processing rules, leading to delayed results in key races.
• Media outlets project winners based on partial counts and margins, but perception of counting speed often differs from actual ballot processing, which can take days or weeks to certify.
• Experts emphasize that complaints about the election process typically come from candidates who think they lost, while winners usually allow the process to conclude without dispute.