AP has declared winners in elections for nearly 180 years. This is why and how race calls are made

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FILE - People walk past a "vote" sign on the first day of early voting in the general election in Miami, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

WASHINGTON – Will Zohran Mamdani be elected New York City mayor? Who will be the next governor of New Jersey ? Will California adopt a new congressional map ?

Those are among the questions The Associated Press will answer when the news organization tabulates votes and declares winners in hundreds of races that are on ballots nationwide Tuesday.

It's a role the AP has filled for nearly 180 years, since shortly after its founding.

Determining a winner involves a careful and thorough analysis of the latest available vote tallies and a variety of other election data. The