Don't know if anyone will know the answer to this, but I'll ask anyway.
We all know that some states can start counting before election day while others have to wait until election day, but I was looking at lists of which states are which, and it appears that the states that have to wait until election day are split up into two further categories - those that have to wait until the polls close, and those that do not. The list of states that have to wait until the polls close does not contain any swing states or states where the outcome is in question.
The list of states that do NOT have to wait for the polls to close includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Georgia.
Does this mean those states could theoretically start counting the mail-in votes at 12AM on election day to get a head start and cut down on the waiting?
Ohio and Georgia are run by Republicans so I wouldn't count on them doing that, but is it possible the blue wall states(who all have Democratic governors) could do that? Could it make a difference?
I don't think all your info is correct. It is really hard to find solid consistent info on this subject. But from the best of my knowledge,
PA can not start counting until polls
close. Also, PA has said they won't count any mail ins until Wednesday.
GA from what I've heard is counting mail ins now.
WI, MI can NOT start counting until 7am on Nov. 3rd
OH can start counting early, but there seems to be no set time frame.
It would be great if the Gov's of these states had any say, but they don't. It's up to the state legislatures, and I believe all of these are Repub controlled.
From what I have seen though, OH has been surprising in how by the book they are playing things, and MI Gov and Sec of State are top notch and have been laser focused on the balloting.
Good news is that we do have a handful of swing states that will tell us a lot.
If OH goes Biden, it's all over. If he is loses, but only by a point or two, it should point to a strong night for Biden.
If NC goes Biden, it's all over. If Biden loses NC, we may be in for a long and painful process
Unless GA goes Blue, but if not, same long and painful process
Unless TX goes Blue, then the heavens open the light of glory showers upon us.
Same with FL
If AZ goes blue later in the evening, it's pretty much locked up, but if Biden has a terrible night everywhere else, and only pulls a 270 win, then you can bet we will be headed for weeks of battles in several states.