Study: Election Announcement Delays Create Distrust

We have come to expect instant gratification, even on election night! A study published in PNAS Nexus found that the longer it takes to announce election results, the less voters trust the outcome. Researchers analyzing 10,000 voters found that when participants were simply informed about a delay in calling the race, trust in the results decreased. However, those who were not informed about a delay trusted the voting process more. This effect can be countered: When participants watched a video explaining why delays can happen, the video eliminated 60% of the distrust voters felt. (Study Finds)