Election results are the culmination of an election and the news that everyone is waiting for. It is important that the media report these results accurately and as quickly as possible.  It is just as important that EMBs facilitate this process. Reporting results may sound the least complicated aspect of an entire election reporting process, at least in principle. Yet it is remarkable how often this can be the most chaotic or confusing stage of an election, for media and audiences alike. In the Zimbabwe referendum of 2000, not a single newspaper or broadcasting station succeeded in reporting the correct results as issued by the Registrar General's Office.[i]

Depending on election procedures, a country’s infrastructure, or any unforeseen issues, results counting can last a matter of hours to a matter of weeks. In Afghanistan, counting periods in elections in both 2009 and 2010 took months. Manual counts are especially time consuming processes.  A recount, or the proceedings of a complaints mechanism might also delay the announcement of official results.

Any protracted counting period prior to the release of final results, is likely to be a sensitive one.  EMBs will usually endeavour to complete all processes as quickly as possible as any delay in results might result in the perception that results have been tampered with.   Diligence and promptness is a challenging balance for election officials.

Meanwhile media outlets will often compete with each other to be the first to release predicted results.  While poorly founded predictions have the potential to add confusion and potentially harm an electoral process, well-founded predictions have the potential of benefiting and bolstering the process.

EMBs will sometimes release gradual results.  However, there are also other means for media to predict the final outcome. These include quick counts and exit polls.   In some instances these tools can also be valuable in deterring counting fraud through illuminating significant differences between predicted results and final results.   This is useful or accurate if quick counts or exit polls were conducted on accurate and credible statistical premises.  For example, it is important that the size and nature of sample selections is representative of the electorate.  However, even accurate exit polls or quick counts have the potential to harm an electoral process.  This is particularly true for exit polls conducted in dangerous circumstances.   The following pages provide a discussion of these two methods and include potential dangers of each.