Election Help Desk: 11/4/20 PM

Today's election changes . Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk Welcome to Ballotpedia's Election Help Desk Newsletter. We're following results for 9,763 elections held on Nov. 3. This afternoon, we cover:  Progress made toward calling elections and resolving recounts and lawsuits The latest on the presidential race Result certification and recount request deadlines you should know today Noteworthy recount requests and lawsuits Upcoming absentee/mail-in ballot receipt deadlines In case you missed this morning’s email, you can view that here.  Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up to receive your copy here.  Days since Election Day: 1         Election results progress Click here to read how Ballotpedia calls races. Click here for Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Ballotpedia is following results in 9,745 elections, including each state in the presidential election. Here's the status of these elections as of 5 p.m on Nov. 4, subject to change as more results come in: 54.5% (5,325) are called and not subject to a recount or lawsuit 45.4% (4,436) are uncalled and not subject to a recount or lawsuit 2 races are currently called but subject to a recount or lawsuit 3 races are currently uncalled and subject to a recount or lawsuit Since the polls closed, we've tracked: 0 races that are still the subject of an active recount 5 races that are still the subject of an active lawsuit 0 races in which a recount has ended 0 races in which a lawsuit has been resolved Presidential election update As of 5 p.m on Nov. 4: 44 of 50 states + D.C. called in the presidential election Uncalled states: Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Maine 2nd, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania 213 electoral votes for Donald Trump (R) 253 electoral votes for Joe Biden (D) One state in the presidential election subject to an active lawsuit 0 states in the presidential election that were subject to a completed lawsuit 0 states in the presidential election with an active recount 0 states in the presidential election with a completed recount Results certification and recount request deadlines to know Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin are expected to be decisive in the presidential election. Given the narrowness of the margins separating Trump and Biden at the time of writing in these states, candidates and their campaigns could pursue recounts. Since recounts can only begin after the certification of results, the deadlines for those processes are closely linked. Challenging ballots is also part of the recount process, which we detailed in this morning’s edition of the newsletter. More about result certification dates The result certification dates for the above states are as follows: Arizona - November 30 Georgia - November 20 Michigan - November 23 Nevada - December 1 North Carolina - November 24 Pennsylvania - November 23 Wisconsin - December 1 More about recount request deadlines The recount request deadline for the above states are as follows: Arizona - Requested recounts not allowed. Georgia - Two business days after certification. Michigan - 48 hours after certification. Nevada - Three business days after certification. North Carolina - Noon on the second business day after certification. Pennsylvania - Five days after certification. Wisconsin - 5:00 p.m. on the first business day after certification. Noteworthy disputes Here's the latest on noteworthy recounts, lawsuits, and other election disputes.  Recounts Wisconsin: On Nov. 4, following the call of a Joe Biden (D) victory in Wisconsin, the Trump campaign announced that it would seek a recount in the state. According to state law, candidates may not officially request a recount until after the certification of results. The state's certification deadline is Dec. 1. The deadline for a presidential campaign to request a recount in Wisconsin is 5:00 p.m. on the business day after certification. Lawsuits Pennsylvania: On Nov. 4, the Trump campaign asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a pending lawsuit over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's order extending the receipt deadline for mail-in ballots to Nov. 6.  Jay Sekulow, an attorney for the campaign, said, "The time has come. Given last night’s results, the vote in Pennsylvania may well determine the next President of the United States. And this Court, not the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, should have the final say on the relevant and dispositive legal questions."  Background: On Sept. 17, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order extending the receipt deadline for mail-in ballots to Nov. 6, overriding the statutory receipt deadline of Nov. 3. This prompted a series of legal challenges. Most recently, on Oct. 28,  the U.S. Supreme Court declined to expedite consideration of a challenge to the state supreme court's order. The court ruled unanimously on the matter. However, Associate Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, and Neil Gorsuch issued a statement criticizing the state supreme court's action: "It would be highly desirable to issue a ruling on the constitutionality of the State Supreme Court’s decision before the election. That question has national importance, and there is a strong likelihood that the State Supreme Court decision violates the Federal Constitution." Alito added, "But I reluctantly conclude that there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election." Although the court declined to intervene ahead of the election, it did not rule on the merits, leaving the possibility open for future action. Justice Amy Coney Barrett did not take part in the case. Upcoming absentee/mail-in voting deadlines Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have secondary receipt deadlines for absentee/mail-in ballots. In these states, ballots must generally have been postmarked on or before Election Day, but they will be accepted if received within a certain number of days after Nov. 3. These secondary receipt deadlines are listed below in chronological order. Nov. 4: Texas Nov. 6: Kansas Kentucky Massachusetts Pennsylvania Virginia Nov. 9: Iowa West Virginia Nov. 10: Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Jersey New York Nov. 12: North Carolina Nov. 13: Alaska District of Columbia Maryland Ohio Nov. 17: Illinois Nov. 20: California For coverage of all dates, deadlines, and requirements, click here. And a dose of calm