Former President Obama on Tuesday urged the country to be patient as election workers count ballots to determine the results of the election. “It took several days to count every ballot in 2020, and it’s very likely we won’t know the outcome tonight either,” Obama wrote on the social platform X. Obama encouraged the public to “keep a few things in mind as you make your voice heard today.” First, he said to remember that “thousands of election workers around the country are working hard today,” adding, “Respect them. Thank them.” “Don’t share things before checking your sources,” he added. And finally, “Let the process run its course. It takes time to count every ballot.” More than 82 million voters cast early ballots this year, which is slightly more than half the total turnout in the presidential election in 2020, according to The Associated Press. States have different rules dictating when and how ballots must be counted. Some states have changed their rules since 2020, which could change the timing of when results come in. In 2020, the race was not officially called for days after the election, leading experts to preemptively warn the public against expecting to know the results of the race on Tuesday night. Experts also warn that early poll returns do not necessarily indicate the trajectory of the entire election. Vice President Harris and former President Trump are entering Election Day in what polls indicate could be the closest race in recent history. According to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling aggregate, Trump and Harris are tied nationally, with 48.4 percent support each.