[craftinator]

I'm not bothered either. I think one reason this comes across as an "issue" is that a majority of the public believes that "election day", the event, or holiday, or whatever you want to call it, is the day on which a new president is elected.

This narrative is pushed by tradition, news media, and the politicians themselves (if it's in their interest). I think we need to separate this narrative in two separate days; one day is Voting Day, the day on which everyone who wants to participate in voting must have their ballot mailed or submitted, and Election Day, which should be a month later, after all votes are counted, where the official results are published, and we accept a new president.

This is good for the American people, in that it's reliable and clearly defined, good for the media, because now they can have a month long headline where they hem and haw and speculate about who will win, and good for the politicians, in that there's time for a smooth transition.

[littleweep]

I think part of the expectation that results be instant is just that things have gotten faster: I can stream any movie I want instantly -- why do I need to wait to see who won the vote? It's complicated and complicated things take time.

[tyingq]

Well, and that it is often is same-day, when the results play out enough to make an electoral prediction with high accuracy. That was the case for many years.