The Election Might Not Yield Instant Results. That’s Fine.

In recent years, Election Night in America has become a lot like New Year’s Eve. Bars, restaurants and hotel ballrooms fill up with revelers; colleges host watch parties; kids beg their parents to stay up late. And everywhere, people tune into election-night coverage. In 2016, more than 71 million Americans watched the returns come in in real time, about twice as many as watched the ball drop in Times Square.

This year the entertainment factor will be compromised. The munching of red, white and blue tortilla chips is still permitted, but this is no time to be crowding into bars and parties. And there’s another potential downer: Delays in counting the votes could mean the evening ends in frustration for both sides.