Absentee and Provisional Ballots - Question

[matt819]

I heard on NPR this morning that policies regarding the counting of absentee and provisional ballots varies from state to state. I can't recall whether they mentioned the counting of early voting. In one state (again, can't remember which one - Arkansas?), they don't count provisional ballots until something like Thursday and absentee ballots next Monday (or something along those lines).

Putting aside the question of fraud, how likely is it that the results tonight will be anything we can count on? Add to this the army of lawyers on both sides ready to pounce with demands for recounts, investigations, etc., and I wonder if we'll be where we were in 2000, with no clear winners for weeks on end.

[Rick Myers]

1. In some states provisionals are counted 21 day AFTER the election

and ONLY if their number could sway a race. Provisionals are NOT real ballots.