As the 2024 general election approaches, voters and election-watchers alike are gearing up for results to start coming in on November 5. States will begin counting votes as soon as polls close to avoid influencing voters who haven’t yet cast their ballots.
Read also: Why Democrats Are Donkeys and Republicans Are Elephants: The Story Behind the Party Animals
Here’s a guide to polling hours across the U.S., whether you’re planning to vote in person or are curious about when to expect the first results.
Polling Hours by State
Alabama
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central and Eastern Time).
Alaska
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (Alaska and Hawaii-Aleutian Time), with results reported as late as 1 a.m. Eastern.
Arizona
Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (9 p.m. Eastern).
Arkansas
Polls open 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Central).
California
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific), with results expected after 11 p.m. Eastern.
Colorado
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain).
Connecticut
Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Delaware
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
District of Columbia
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Florida
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern).
Georgia
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern).
Hawaii
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Hawaii), with East Coast results expected after midnight.
Idaho
Polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time (Mountain and Pacific).
Illinois
Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central).
Indiana
Polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time (Eastern and Central).
Iowa
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central).
Kansas
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central).
Kentucky
Polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time (Eastern and Central).
Louisiana
Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central).
Maine
Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern); smaller towns may close earlier if all registered voters have cast ballots.
Maryland
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Massachusetts
Polls open as early as 5:45 a.m. but remain open from at least 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Michigan
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Minnesota
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central).
Mississippi
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central).
Missouri
Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central).
Montana
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Mountain), though districts with fewer than 400 voters may open later and close when all registered voters have cast ballots.
Nebraska
Polls open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central) and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain).
Nevada
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Pacific), with results expected after 10 p.m. Eastern.
New Hampshire
Closing times vary by municipality, but polls close no earlier than 7 p.m. (Eastern).
New Jersey
Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
New Mexico
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain).
New York
Polls open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern).
North Carolina
Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern).
North Dakota
Times vary by county.
Ohio
Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern).
Oklahoma
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Central).
Oregon
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Pacific and Mountain).
Pennsylvania
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
Rhode Island
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern).
South Carolina
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern).
Tennessee
Hours vary by county.
Texas
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time (Central and Mountain).
Utah
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Mountain).
Vermont
Polls open between 5 and 10 a.m., closing at 7 p.m. (Eastern).
Virginia
Polls open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern).
Washington
Voters must drop off ballots by 8 p.m. (Pacific).
West Virginia
Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern).
Wisconsin
Polls open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Central).
Wyoming
Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Mountain).
Who is Currently Ahead in the U.S. Presidential Election?
Days before the 2024 election, polls show a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, with no clear frontrunner.
With only days remaining before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump is as close as ever. As Americans prepare to head to the polls, recent surveys show a neck-and-neck battle, making this one of the most hotly contested elections in recent history. The latest polling data reveals that neither candidate has established a decisive lead, reflecting a highly polarized electorate and raising questions about which direction the nation will take.
A national poll conducted by CNN from October 20 to October 23 shows both candidates locked in a dead heat, each garnering 47% support among likely voters. This tie underscores the razor-thin margins that could ultimately determine the outcome.
How the U.S. Vote-Counting Process Works and When to Expect Final Results
As the U.S. election approaches, understanding how votes are counted and when results are finalized can shed light on what to expect in the days after election day. Unlike many countries, the U.S. uses an Electoral College system, and each state has its own rules and timelines for counting votes, which can influence how soon we know the final outcome.
- Electoral College System: The presidency is decided by electoral votes, not the popular vote. A candidate needs 270 out of 538 electoral votes to win.
- State-by-State Rules: Most states operate on a “winner-takes-all” basis, giving all electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes in that state.
Timing of Vote Counting:
- Some states start counting early and mail-in ballots before election day (e.g., Florida, Arizona).
- Others, like Pennsylvania, begin processing mail-in ballots only on election day, which can delay results.
When to Expect Final Results:
- Preliminary results are often available on election night or early the next day.
- States with close races or high mail-in voting may take a few additional days to report final tallies.
- Official certification happens in late November or early December, with the Electoral College casting its votes in mid-December, formally confirming the winner.
This timeline means that while preliminary outcomes may be visible on election night, the final, certified result might take days or even weeks, especially in a close race.
Be sure to confirm your local polling hours, and check where to cast your vote on November 5, 2024!