Skip to main content

Vote Counting Continues

COUNTING BALLOTS On November 4, election workers in Detroit, Michigan, count absentee ballots. JEFF KOWALSKY—GETTY IMAGES

No winner has yet been declared in the 2020 presidential election. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, about three out of every four registered voters had the option to vote by mail. So millions of mail-in and absentee ballots are still being counted.

Election experts say it’s important to be patient while waiting for the official vote count. They say it could be days, or even weeks, before Americans know the outcome of the election.

A United States presidential candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win. Both candidates—President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden—still have a chance to reach that number. A few key states have yet to award their electoral votes to a candidate. Votes being counted in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania will play a big part in determining the outcome of the election.

Early Wednesday morning, the candidates addressed the nation. Trump said his team is “getting ready to win this election.” Biden said his team feels “good about where we are.”

Look for further updates on the 2020 election at timeforkids.com and in the November 13, 2020, issue of TIME for Kids.

More from Election 2020