Voters are worried about another blue or red mirage this election year. The current winner can swing rapidly in an extremely tight race such as the one between Trump and Harris. A candidate can seem to be the inevitable victor one moment and end up being the loser. However, the risk of that happening in this election is less than in 2020.
What are blue and red mirages?
Republicans tend to vote on Election Day, and in states that count those ballots first, a “red mirage” can occur. Early results in these locations will make it seem like Republicans are ahead, only for there to be a “blue shift” when mail-in and absentee votes are counted.
The opposite, a “blue mirage,” can occur when a state counts mail-in ballots first, making it seem like the Democrat candidate is winning. When in-person votes are added to the tally later, a “red shift” can occur, leading to a Republican victory.
Will a blue or red mirage occur in 2024?
A red mirage occurred in 2020, which was a surprise to many. Voters went to bed with Trump winning and woke up to Biden being the victor. However, the pandemic led to more mail-in ballots being cast in that election than ever, which was a factor that heavily affected early results.
However, we’re still likely to see blue and red mirages, at least briefly, in swing states. As of this writing, some of these are close enough that the victor may come down to the votes in a single county. So, don’t assume a candidate has won a state until it’s officially called.
Additionally, since 2020, some states have adjusted their election procedures to allow ballots to be counted faster and prevent the mirage phenomenon. So, hopefully, we’ll find out who the next president is faster after polls close this time.
