The delay in knowing the U.S. election winner is jarring to a planet weaned on American speediness. World leaders generally refrained from commenting about the possibilities either way. But the particularly fractious contest between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden has sparked concerns overseas America’s sharp divisions will endure long after the winner is declared. Gloating was heard in some countries that have been on the receiving end of U.S. criticism about how they run their own elections. But others see the slow vote-counting as a living example of how democracy works.
![APTOPIX Election 2020 China](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/03b1b6b/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F46068e0e3ca54f34a4dc07a8329ea7bb.jpg)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Customers watch TVs showing a live telecast of President Donald Trump speak in the East Room of the White House during the U.S. election, at a quiet pub in Beijing, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
![APTOPIX Election 2020 China](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/03b1b6b/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F46068e0e3ca54f34a4dc07a8329ea7bb.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8081147/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F5c9328236ac5400ea59ed2dd2824b3f2.jpg)
![Election 2020 Harris India](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5d700ef/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F00ccb6d22d3c4869874525fc34d17524.jpg)
![Election 2020 Philippines](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dcda443/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fd206a11fd2024779ad3aa511bc32cc58.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/39e1525/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F49b9e34f9285465994e214eaa51cec43.jpg)
![Election 2020 Japan](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9d174e3/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fd4fa1fc9e97a49409158675a1d864b5e.jpg)
![Election 2020 South Korea](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/385c533/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F7c61d8effa4a49cbb4f0441c5a47165f.jpg)
![Election 2020 Japan](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/959f542/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fc0e248ab5e6a4d1e82e5514423439417.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d38b166/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fee5582b75bae4e80a4065f54b23506c3.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7430432/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fb502dc3fbf9740ccacdec62627599b1e.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1607cc2/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F3ceea0d50e8e4005853e09d0f059c020.jpg)
![Election 2020 Japan](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/980e94e/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2Fd7d673c898fa4e65a875eba547e16ce0.jpg)
![Election 2020 Global](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c4cc131/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F58412102721541edb4f39c2bab02add4.jpg)
![Election 2020 Hong Kong](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27b7396/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F3a42025e9036460f9874d762e1e6a376.jpg)
![Election 2020 South Korea](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ddc68b3/2147483647/strip/true/resize/1280x720!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmediaassets.kristv.com%2Fkris%2Fapimages%2F8496f9e6c7074a188c0fb738cd441428.jpg)
Posted
and last updated
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.