New election buzzword: Patience

There’s a new buzzword in American politics – one we may not be used to: patience.

But patience we may need to have nonetheless as some are predicting a slower vote count amid overwhelming early voter turnout.

Why? Mail-in ballots. Once few, more American’s than ever before have already voted amid ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Some states call them absentee or early voting ballots.

These ballots require election commission staff to open, flatten and check each ballot for errors before they are even counted. That takes more time than ballots cast at the polls.

How much patience will you have on election night? How late will you stay up hoping that a clear winner in the presidential race is declared? Will you pack it in early and check the results in the morning? How long do you think it will take to sort everything out – days, weeks?