Harris County expects a historic number of ballots, and voters may wonder how long the count will take. Some results could come in quickly on election night, but counting, canvassing and certifying ballots takes more time, according to KPRC 2 Helps You.
Former Harris County Democratic Party chair Mike Doyle said early voting and mail-in ballot results are likely among the first numbers voters see on election night. He said election workers have already started some of the process, but those results are not released early, and that releasing that data before polls close is illegal. Doyle said that in past elections, the county usually had a clear picture by 2 or 3 a.m. He said this record-breaking election could push that timeline back, possibly into the middle of Wednesday.
Doyle noted that election-night results are not the same as final, certified results. Under the Texas Election Code, races must go through canvassing and certification. Harris County has until November 17 to complete that process for this election, which is 14 days.