CENTRE– WEIS election coverage will bring readers confirmed results from local races, Alabama contests, and the national battle for Congress on Tuesday, November 3.

Coverage will begin as results start coming in after polls close at 7 p.m. Central. Throughout the evening, the WEIS Election Desk will update graphics and reports as verified results become available.

In addition, each update will identify the race, the area covered, and the time of the latest verified information.

Coverage will include Cherokee, Etowah, DeKalb, and Calhoun counties, with additional races as information becomes available. Meanwhile, statewide updates will track Alabama contests, including the governor’s race.

Alabama Senate District 10 will receive particular attention. For that race, WEIS will distinguish the combined district total from returns covering only one county.

Nationally, the election desk will follow the contest for control of the U.S. House and Senate. Those graphics will show party seat totals and seats still awaiting a call.

A Lead Is Not a Win

“In progress” means the count is continuing and the figures may change. For example, a candidate can lead early and fall behind as other voting locations report.

Therefore, a leading candidate will not automatically receive a winner’s check mark. Instead, a clear label will distinguish a called race from one still in progress.

A called race means a winner has been determined or projected. However, counting may continue, and a media projection does not replace official certification.

Likewise, “final unofficial” means the reporting source has completed its election-night tally, but officials have not yet certified it. Afterward, certification provides the official confirmation following the required review.

County Votes and District Votes Are Different

A county graphic shows that county’s votes only. For a race that crosses county lines, it does not show the entire contest.

For example, an Etowah County graphic may include Etowah votes in Senate District 10. However, those figures do not include the district’s votes from Cherokee and DeKalb counties.

The full District 10 graphic will combine returns from the district’s eligible voting locations across all three counties. Consequently, winning one county’s share does not necessarily mean winning the district.

Similarly, the Alabama governor graphic will show statewide totals, rather than the vote from a single county.

Understanding Percentages and Timestamps

A candidate’s vote percentage shows their share of the votes counted so far. However, it does not show how much of the election count is complete.

By comparison, “precincts reporting” measures voting locations that have reported. An “estimated vote in” figure estimates how much of the expected vote has arrived.

Those measures are different, so WEIS will label the available figure accurately. If reliable reporting progress is unavailable, the graphic will say so rather than supply a guess.

Also, “100% precincts reporting” does not by itself mean every eligible ballot is counted or the results are certified.

As the evening develops, readers should check each graphic’s Central Time timestamp and result label. Follow WEIS Radio online and on Facebook for updates as confirmed information becomes available.

LOCAL NEWS