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Joe Biden is the Projected Winner of the 2020 Election: Now What?

Protests, recounts, lawsuits, and how you can protect your mental health through it all.

Date Published: November 9, 2020 at 11:30 AM

Congratulations for making it through the 2020 election (for the most part) amid a global pandemic, nationwide protest, and a year that seemingly just won’t stop giving us stuff to worry about. Through it all, this election season has shown us just how influential young people are in driving this country forward and holding those in power to account. No matter who you voted for or how you’re feeling right now, be proud of yourself for making your voice heard this year -- at the polls, in the streets, and beyond. Here’s what you need to know about what comes next.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

VICTORY DECLARED FOR BIDEN

After a highly competitive race and particularly tense Election Week, former Vice President Joe Biden has emerged the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election, according to the Associated Press as well as every other major news network.

Biden’s campaign has already made some promises for his first few days as president, including rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, ending the Muslim travel ban, and addressing the coronavirus pandemic.

  • History was made in the 2020 election. For starters, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is set to become our country’s first Black, Asian, and female vice president -- and her identity as a daughter of immigrants is also a first within the office. Regardless of party or politics, this is a monumental milestone in elevating these identities in our political sphere. “While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last,” said Harris in a speech Saturday. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
  • The youth vote was out in full force. Speaking of making history, we saw record-shattering absentee and early youth voter turnout in the 2020 election, and early estimates suggest that general youth voter turnout is the highest it’s been in modern history. Not only that, young voters (particularly young Black voters) were hugely impactful in key battleground states like Georgia and Arizona -- ultimately powering the victories there.
  • An important reminder: Regardless of who you voted for up and down the ballot, the political process doesn’t end here. Your voice is still powerful in shaping the direction of our government and our country. Now is the time to hold your elected officials accountable to addressing the causes and issues that you care about most.
  • What comes next? In some ways, this moment concludes an unprecedented election season amid an already tumultuous year. At the same time, it seems like it’s only the beginning of what’s shaping up to be a heavily contested period in our political history. Read on to learn more about the ongoing protests, lawsuits, and other challenges following the results of the election -- plus, mental health resources to help you cope with everything going on.

PROTESTS

  • There’s currently no evidence of widespread voter fraud. There’s been a lot of misinformation about voter fraud floating around online over the past few days, including false assertions that Wisconsin had more votes than registered voters or that the use of sharpies on Arizona ballots were invalidating votes (these have both been debunked). Be careful when you see claims like these go viral on social media -- these are serious allegations, and should be verified beyond an unsourced Twitter thread or Insta graphic. And as a reminder, several studies have found that voter fraud is exceedingly rare in our country (between 0.0003% and 0.0025%), and certainly not enough to sway the outcome of an election.
  • Protests have happened over vote counts and the election outcome. Protests happenednationwide in New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, and beyond. Some were calling to “count every vote” while others were calling to “stop the count”. Supporters of President Trump have continued to hold rallies and gatherings after the results were announced, protesting the outcome of the election. All of these protests are in response to unfounded claims made by President Trump regarding unfounded suspicions of voter fraud (more on that below). Overall, tensions have been high at these protests, but they’ve been largely peaceful, save for a few police confrontations in a handful of cities.
  • If you’re protesting, do it safely. Voting is a form of protest, and young people have already gone above and beyond to do their part. If you do join a protest, follow these safety tips from Amnesty International and understand your rights as a protester with this guide from the ACLU. (Side note: a lot of cities really braced themselves for violent protests following the election, but that kind of unrest hasn’t really materialized so far. Just practice caution and remain vigilant when joining a demonstration.)

CHALLENGES & LAWSUITS

MENTAL HEALTH & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

It’s safe to say that there’s a lot going on right now in our country. No matter who you voted for or how you’re feeling about this year in particular, by nature of being an election, this moment will have long-lasting impacts on us and our lives -- and everyone is processing it differently! Check out some of these resources for help navigating it.

Need immediate support? Text DS to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor from the Crisis Text Line -- free 24/7 support at your fingertips.

Election-Specific Resources

General Mental Health Resources

Support Hotlines

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