The final presidential election results are not made until the vote of the Electoral College in December.

However, each state's preliminary totals are shown in the media following the end of voting in each state. By late evening on election day, the result is usually clear, and by tradition includes a concession call (from the losing candidate to the winning candidate). In some cases, this is after midnight Eastern Time.

Because voters go to the polls according to local time, voters in Hawaii (and rarely, in Pacific coast states) may become aware of the likely result before the close of voting in their state.