MANILA, Philippines – The impact of the results of the tight presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump will go far beyond the borders of the United States.
From the number of Filipino Americans (at least 4.1 million as of 2022) to the Philippines being the US oldest ally in Asia, it cannot be denied how crucial the results will also be for Filipinos.
But when will Americans vote? When can we expect results? Here’s a basic guide on the US elections adjusted on Philippine time to keep Filipinos updated and in the know.
The presidential election is happening on Tuesday, November 5 in US timezones. For people based in the Philippines who want to witness the historic moment unravel, the polls will open the evening of Tuesday, November 5, because of the time difference.
Polling hours vary since the US has multiple timezones. States, sometimes down to the municipality, also have different rules on its voting hours. Keep in mind also that the Philippines is usually 13 to 16 hours ahead of most of these timezones.
Check the table below to see the voting hours per state, based on information compiled by the Associated Press. The second column indicates the time the polls open and close in US eastern time (13 hours behind of the Philippines), while the third column shows the equivalent in Philippine time.
You can expect initial results to be reported by major news organizations in different states upon the closing of polls. This can start early morning to noon on Wednesday, November 6, in the Philippines.
But this can extend if we are talking about early projections and the full results. According to a piece by data journalism website FiveThirtyEight, the time we can expect results depends on how close the race is and how quickly states can count the ballots. Remember that votes from early voters and mail-in ballots will also be counted, aside from those cast on the exact election day.
Similar to the Philippine process, the election results aren’t final until it goes through a process that ends in Congress. The results will be certified first at the state level, before electoral votes are cast. Then the Congress, in a joint session, will count the electoral votes.
This is a crucial process that needs to be monitored. To recall, in January 2021, a mob of supporters of defeated candidate Donald Trump attacked Congress when lawmakers were about to formalize the victory of then-president elect Joe Biden in the 2020 elections.
Bookmark Rappler’s developing storypage for critical updates and insights about the US elections. You may also visit this page to read explainers, analyses, and opinions on the critical race that could shape not just the future of the global superpower, but also of the entire world. – Rappler.com
