Follow election results live on iPhone or iPad Lock Screen [Updated]

Update: With the U.S. election now over, this feature has been disabled.

As Americans head to the polls Tuesday for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Apple makes it easier than ever for iOS users to stay informed with real-time results. The Apple News app’s Live Activities feature displayed election results right on an iPhone or iPad’s Lock Screen and Home Screen.

You can set it up with just one tap in Apple News on each device. But watch out: Doing so could ensure you’ll obsessively look at your devices thousands of times in the next couple days as results come in.

Follow live election results on iPhone or iPad Lock Screen and Home Screen

The new functionality allows iPhone and iPad users to monitor election developments directly from their devices’ Lock Screen and Home Screen. That eliminates the need to constantly refresh news websites or social media feeds.

The live election updates should show up late in the day Tuesday, and should appear on Dynamic Island for compatible iPhones, according to AppleInsider. The Lock Screen widget offers an additional layer of convenience, providing instant access to electoral counts and the latest coverage with just a tap.

How to easily activate the feature

To access the live election updates on your iPhone or iPad, just follow the simple steps below. Users will need either an iPhone 14 Pro or later running iOS 16.1 or an iPad with iPadOS 17 or later.

1. Open the Apple News app and look for the Follow the election live prompt
2. Tap the prompt or the red Follow Live button.
3. Alternatively, users can activate the feature by navigating to Following > Special Coverage > Election 2024.

Are you sure you want to do this?

While the feature promises quick access to election results, it also raises questions about the impact of constant electoral updates on voter anxiety. Some Americans prefer to disconnect during the vote-counting process, while others feel compelled to monitor every development. Apple’s new feature caters primarily to the latter group.

Obviously, if following the election results as they develop stresses you out, you might want to skip this feature. The results will still be the results when you’re ready to check.

For those interested in enabling this feature, Apple News will display the activation prompt throughout Election Day, ensuring users don’t miss any crucial updates as the results unfold across the nation.