When Will Results Post? Contra Costa, San Mateo and Alameda Counties Lay Out Their Election Night Schedules

Polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Election offices in three of the Bay Area's largest counties have posted when their first results will go up, and they all say the same thing: the early numbers are not the final numbers.

Contra Costa County

The first report will come out shortly after 8 p.m. It will include mail ballots that have already been counted and in-person ballots from the regional early voting sites. A second report, with results from the polls, is expected around 9:30 p.m. After that, updates will come at least once an hour until every precinct has reported, and the last election night report should be out by midnight.

The office said the election night total “typically” represents only about half of all the votes it ends up receiving. The first update after election night is due by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. After that, results will be posted twice a week until the canvass is done, and certification is set for Dec. 3. Results will also air on Contra Costa Television starting at 8 p.m.

San Mateo County

The first report comes at 8:10 p.m. It covers mail ballots that arrived by mail, or were dropped at a vote center or drop box, on or before Sunday, Nov. 1. Vote center results start at 9 p.m. and are updated every hour until all of them are counted. The county says more than 90% of ballots are expected to be mail ballots, and that mail ballots arriving on Election Day won't be in any of the election night reports.

After Election Day, San Mateo plans to post updates before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 5, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 16, and to certify on Dec. 3. The county had 449,447 registered voters as of Oct. 19.

Alameda County

The Registrar of Voters says results will be posted shortly after 8 p.m. on election night. The county's next scheduled step is picking the random batches for the required 1% manual tally on Nov. 16, with the tally itself on Nov. 18.

Why the numbers move

California counts mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days, so close races can change for weeks. San Francisco's schedule is in our SF results timeline, and the statewide calendar is in our guide to when California results become final.

How to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.