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When and how is the call made to declare a winner on election night?

With Donald Trump and Kamala Harris neck and neck in the polls, Northeastern University political experts say the 2024 presidential election could come down to a handful of ballots in one state, and recounts and lengthy court challenges. Or, experts say, it may be a clear victory for one candidate or the other by 10 p.m. on election night. 

“There’s a huge range of possibilities,” says Northeastern University polling expert David Lazer. “It’s really a coin flip at this point,” adds John Wihbey, associate professor of media innovation and technology at Northeastern. So how will we know who wins? The news media.

Read more on Northeastern Global News.

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