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(New Mexico News Connection) After a long campaign season, voters in New Mexico and around the country are casting their ballots. But in some races, the outcome might not be known for several days.

The first results from the presidential race will filter in just after polls close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.

But certain states tally votes more quickly than others, and in western states like New Mexico - where polls close later - some contests may already have been called.

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Many observers will rely on the Associated Press in close races, which the news organization's Vice President and Head of News Strategy David Scott explained is a painstaking process.

"So, we're looking at those vote totals. We're looking at other data points as well to answer a single question - can the trailing candidates catch the leader?" said Scott. "And when our decision team has determined that is no longer the case and that the leader is the leader - then we declare a winner."

Major television networks also make their own calls.

Scott said AP reporters will be stationed in 4,000 city, county and parish offices on election night waiting for results from local officials.

Those results will be relayed to another team of 800 people who will perform quality assurance checks and analysis before calls are made on each race and the information is distributed to news outlets around the world.

The AP's election night role dates back 170 years. Calling a race can make use of actual results, exit polls, and historical trends.

Scott said the outcome in some states will be predictable and reported quickly, but other races will need more scrutiny.

"I don't think that anyone would be surprised that Donald Trump is probably going to win Wyoming," said Scott. "It's a very Republican state and I don't think a Democrat has won there in several decades. Similarly, Kamala Harris - very likely to win Hawaii and Massachusetts. These are very Democratic states. In Pennsylvania? Oof. It could be awhile before we know."

The AP expects to make calls in nearly 7,000 individual races this year, from the president down to local elections and ballot measures.

The nonprofit organization operates 235 news bureaus in 94 countries.

Support for this reporting was provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.