Each state has its own rules as to processing and counting votes in Presidential elections. The National Conference of State Legislatures publishes a summary of all the procedures. I’ve pared down their summary to include only the battleground states that went for Trump in 2016. Here they are:
Arizona. Ariz. Stat. §16–550, §16-551
Processing: Tallying can begin 14 days before Election Day.
Counting: Tallying can begin 14 days before Election Day, but results may not be released before all precincts are reporting or one hour after the closing of polls on Election Day. Releasing information earlier is a felony.
Florida. West’s F.S.A. § 101.68
Processing: Signature verification can begin at 7 a.m. 22 days before Election Day.
Counting: 7 a.m. 22 days before Election Day. Releasing the results early is a felony.
Georgia. O.C.G.A. § 21-2-386
Processing: Signature verification conducted upon receipt.
Counting: 7 a.m. on Election Day.
Iowa. Iowa Code §53.23
Processing: Affidavits may be reviewed the day before Election Day.
Counting: On Election Day, at a time set by the election commissioner to allow a reasonable amount of time to complete the count of absentee ballots by 10 p.m. on Election Day.
North Carolina. N.C.G.S.A. § 163‑230.1 and 163-234
Processing: The fifth Tuesday before Election Day. Counties using optical scan devices may remove ballots from their envelopes and place them in tabulators.
Counting: Two weeks prior to Election Day, provided the hour and place of counting is announced. Results shall not be announced before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Maine (CD-2). 21-A M.R.S.A. § 759, 760-B
Processing: Four days before Election Day if notice of processing times is posted at least 60 days before the election.
Counting: After the polls close on Election Day.
Michigan. MCLS §168.765 et seq.
Processing: On Election Day.
Counting: On Election Day before the polls close at the jurisdiction’s discretion. Anyone with access to absentee ballot counting must sign an oath that information related to processing and tallying will not be communicated in any way until after the polls close.
Nebraska. (CD-2). Neb. Rev. Stat. §32-1027
Processing: Verification can begin the second Friday before Election Day. If approved, the envelope can be opened, the ballot unfolded and flattened and placed in a sealed container.
Counting: Twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls. No results shall be released until after polls close on Election Day.
North Carolina. N.C.G.S.A. § 163‑230.1 and 163-234
Processing: The fifth Tuesday before Election Day. Counties using optical scan devices may remove ballots from their envelopes and place them in tabulators.
Counting: Two weeks prior to Election Day, provided the hour and place of counting is announced. Results shall not be announced before 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
Ohio. Ohio Rev. Code § 3509.06
Processing: Processing may begin before the time for counting ballots. Exact timing not specified.
Counting: Absentee ballots may be scanned prior to the election, but the count may not be disclosed prior to the closing of the polls.
Pennsylvania. 25 P.S. § 3146.8
Processing: At 7 a.m. on Election Day.
Counting: At 7 a.m. on Election Day, but the votes may not be recorded or published until after the polls close.
Texas. V.T.C.A., Election Code § 87.0241, § 87.041
Processing: Signature and voter verification may be conducted upon receipt.
Counting: When the polls open on Election Day. In a jurisdiction with more than 100,000 people, counting can begin at the end of the early voting by personal appearance period.
Wisconsin. W.S.A. 6.88
Processing: After the polls open on Election Day.
Counting: After the polls open on Election Day.
The Rest of the Way, Part 2 