Election results are a critical part of our democracy. Voters rely on election officials to provide them with trustworthy information about the state of elections and about what their votes mean. Election officials also know that how they communicate those results can have an impact on the confidence of voters in the integrity of the electoral process. The process that leads to the final, official election results includes several steps and a variety of factors that can affect when those results become certified.
Our analysis reveals that people are more satisfied with democracy when the outcome is not only unexpected, but also exceeds their expectations. Specifically, the gap between expected and actual winners was smaller in the ANES post-election surveys of 2000 and 2016. This is partly due to the fact that many voters may have been influenced by partisan polling and projections with favourable odds for their preferred candidate (Kennedy and Manski 2018).
It is important to remember that it is completely normal to feel disappointed, fearful or nervous about an election result that does not align with one’s hopes and dreams. However, it is important to take care of yourself by coping with your emotions in healthy ways. For example, exercise or connecting with supportive friends can help reduce stress and anxiety during difficult moments.