In most states (maybe all) the ballots aren't actually opened and counted until Election Day. I think that's until the polls close (so 8 p.m. in Massachusetts, 9 in New York, whenever the last mail is delivered in Washington state...).
And then, yes, they may count the ballots in the order of arrival. When I lived in Washington, the blue shift was large enough that an incumbent Seattle City Councilman gave a victory speech election night, and then congratulated his opponent on her victory two weeks later.
In a number of states, any election-night results will be tentative, because ballots have to be postmarked by Election Day, but will be counted if they arrive some number of days later. In Massachusetts, this year, it's three days later--except there's another, later deadline for absentee ballots from serving military members overseas.
And, federalism being what it is, every state makes its own rules. I don't know offhand what rules apply on Indian reservations.
meta: there isn't one answer, but fifty-one
In most states (maybe all) the ballots aren't actually opened and counted until Election Day. I think that's until the polls close (so 8 p.m. in Massachusetts, 9 in New York, whenever the last mail is delivered in Washington state...).
And then, yes, they may count the ballots in the order of arrival. When I lived in Washington, the blue shift was large enough that an incumbent Seattle City Councilman gave a victory speech election night, and then congratulated his opponent on her victory two weeks later.
In a number of states, any election-night results will be tentative, because ballots have to be postmarked by Election Day, but will be counted if they arrive some number of days later. In Massachusetts, this year, it's three days later--except there's another, later deadline for absentee ballots from serving military members overseas.
And, federalism being what it is, every state makes its own rules. I don't know offhand what rules apply on Indian reservations.