The “red mirage” or “blue shift” phenomenon occurs when, for example, Republicans lead after polls close on election night, but that lead disappears as mail-in ballots are counted later in the evening or in the days after Election Day. According to CNN.
Former President Donald Trump has referred to the “red mirage” to support his unjustified claims of election fraud, while the phenomenon was a result of the high rate of mail-in voting and often depended on when those ballots could be counted.
In 2020, this phenomenon was exemplified in places with slow vote counting speeds like California, which tends to be heavily Democratic and where every registered voter is sent a mail-in ballot.
This means that a “blue shift” in votes by polling stations may occur and delay the official results of the presidential election.
Vote counting also did not show Joe Biden leading in Georgia until the morning of November 6, when it was shown on television how small batches of votes were being counted affecting the election.
There was also a blue shift in 2016, but it was not decisive.
Dates for certifying official results may vary from state to state, but all states have until December 11 to complete recounts, if necessary, and settle disputes related to the presidential results.
