After a little re-thinking, it seems I may be, like so many others, misinterpreting the news reports of the election outcomes.

I earlier noted, in Election Night Statistics Stupidity, that winners are being declared in states where no votes have been reported. I've been reminded that this is quite possible, as the President is not elected by a popular vote.

Wikipedia (yes, not always the best source) has a good description of the workings and intent of the US Electoral College.

So, it may be simply the case that the electoral votes for the declared states have been pledged, and therefore the candidate has practically won the state.

In some states the electoral college is not at all bound to the popular vote. While the electoral college does not actually vote today, they may have pledged their vote to a candidate. This might be what the news has reported.

In those states where the popular vote drives the electoral college, there is undoubtedly more attention paid to exit polls and the reported votes. These states' winners are more likely projections than based on pledges.

Additionally, in most states their entire count of electoral votes must go to the same candidate. So in a state where the popular vote is not driving the electoral college, there needs to be no citizen votes counted in order to declare a winner. Regardless, once a projection is made, the whole state (in these cases) is counted the same.

While not directly indicated in the news, it may be the case that this is the foundation for at least some of the declarations. I think it would be more appropriate for them to point this out. The way the news portrays it, every person needs to vote in order for the President to be elected.