Here’s what you need to know about vote counting, voting restrictions, and preelection lawsuits before November 5.


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How We’ll Get to the 2024 Election Results

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The election outcome won’t be settled when the polls close on November 5. The results we see that night will just be preliminary — official totals take weeks to finalize through a careful, multistep counting process. Our detailed guide

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breaks down the 10 main steps involved, from counting ballots to double-checking results and certifying the final tallies. Over the past four years, some states have implemented new rules to speed up their counting processes, while others have introduced changes

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that could cause delays. Regardless of how quickly results are reported, voters can rest assured that robust safeguards at every stage will ensure an accurate and trustworthy vote count

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State-by-State Guide to New Voting Obstacles

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This year, many Americans are facing new voting requirements due to changes in state election laws made since 2020. At least 29 states have tightened voter ID rules, restricted mail voting, or complicated ballot collection and voter assistance, which could make it harder for eligible voters to participate. Explore our interactive map to find out which states will have new restrictions in effect for the 2024 election and what they are

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Election Deniers’ Smoke-and-Mirrors Offensive

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A familiar tactic from the election subversion playbook is back in action this year. Conservative activists are filing a wave of lawsuits filled with baseless claims about voter fraud, all designed to undermine confidence in the electoral process. While judges are likely to dismiss these unsubstantiated claims as they did in 2020, the goal of election deniers isn’t just to win in court. Instead, these cases aim to lay the groundwork for challenges to election results and sow public distrust in our democracy

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The Truth About Pro-Reform Prosecutors

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In recent years, pro-reform elected prosecutors have tried to reshape the criminal justice system to reduce unfair outcomes and excessive sentences while preserving public safety. They’ve faced significant backlash from critics who claim that their strategies contribute to rising crime rates. However, a new analysis from the Brennan Center debunks this myth, finding no connection between crime trends and pro-reform prosecutors

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Uncovering Online Political Spending

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Advertisers poured more than $619 million into political ads on Google and Meta from early 2023 through August 2024, with nearly half of that money coming from groups that may hide their donors, according to a new analysis by the Brennan Center, OpenSecrets, and the Wesleyan Media Project. This eye-popping spending underscores the huge influence of online platforms in elections, as well as the alarming weakness of transparency rules. As political disinformation tactics escalate, the need for stronger regulations and disclosure requirements for online political advertising has never been more clear

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The Alien Enemies Act, Explained

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This month, Donald Trump announced a plan to use a 1798 law to launch a sweeping immigrant detention and deportation scheme if he is reelected. A Brennan Center explainer

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dives into the Alien Enemies Act and explores its troubling past, including its role in the shameful internment of Japanese, Germans, and Italians during World War II. The potential for this law to be invoked against immigrants in peacetime raises major constitutional red flags. Congress should repeal or reform this unjust and racist law without delay

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The Narrow Path to Controlling the House

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The battle for the House majority is shaping up to be fierce and expensive — and its outcome will hinge on a shockingly small number of districts. This year, less than a tenth of all House seats are considered competitive, as gerrymandering has effectively locked in victories in most districts. This status quo underscores why redistricting reforms at the federal and state levels are urgently needed to ensure fair maps

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Lifetime Tenure Has Outlived Its Usefulness

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Lifetime appointments for Supreme Court justices were meant to ensure their independence and impartiality, but now they lead to the opposite outcome, with justices plagued by ethics scandals and accusations of partisanship. In the latest essay in our series on Supreme Court term limits

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, historian Jack Rakove examines the framers’ intentions behind allowing justices to serve during “good behavior.” He argues that replacing lifetime tenure with 18-year fixed terms would better align with the founding generation’s vision for fairness and judicial independence

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PODCAST: Latinos and the Far Right

Our latest episode explores the alarming trend of some Latinos, mostly young and male, gravitating toward the far right. The panelists include award-winning journalist Paola Ramos, the author of a new book, Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America

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; Michael German, former FBI special agent and fellow in the Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program; Eduardo Gamarra, politics and international relations professor at Florida International University; and Mireya Navarro, editor in chief of Brennan en español. Listen on Spotify

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, Apple Podcasts

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, or your favorite podcast platform

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BRENNAN CENTER ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Rogue officials may attempt to interfere with the certification of this year’s presidential election results. Fortunately, numerous legal protections guard against such efforts. Learn more on Instagram >>

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Virtual Events

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What’s at Stake on State Ballots

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Tuesday, October 29, 3–4 p.m. ET

Electing a president is not the only high-stakes choice that voters will make this fall. In Ohio, citizens are voting on a constitutional amendment that would end gerrymandering in the state. Voters in 10 states have the opportunity to amend their state constitutions to affirm or expand protections for abortion care. Three states will decide whether to remove language against same-sex marriage from their state constitutions.



Join this expert discussion about the issues on ballots in this election, as well as efforts to reduce citizens’ ability to enact policy through ballot initiatives. RSVP today

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Produced in partnership with State Court Report







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Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law

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