After months of a grueling, high-stakes campaign between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, the 2024 U.S. presidential election has officially arrived.
Americans across the country will soon begin to see the results of their votes, though they’ll need to exercise patience as the counting process unfolds.
Millions of voters have already cast their ballots early, either through in-person early voting or by mail, setting the stage for a dramatic and prolonged night of results.
As the polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. local time — depending on the state — Election Day will kick off in earnest. While the first polls will close around 6 p.m. ET in some states, the final votes will not be tallied until midnight ET, when Hawaii and most of Alaska close their polls.
Given the highly charged political atmosphere, it’s crucial for voters and observers to remain patient. Social media will inevitably light up with partisans on both sides declaring premature winners in counties and states across the nation.
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The reality is that results take time to process, particularly in states that see a high volume of mail-in and early voting, where ballots tend to be counted at different rates depending on local election systems. Additionally, Democratic-leaning and Republican-leaning precincts may report at different speeds, complicating early race calls.
Election officials have warned that the count could take longer than anticipated, particularly in the seven key swing states that both the Harris and Trump campaigns agree will ultimately decide the outcome of the election: Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), Georgia (16), North Carolina (16), Michigan (15), Arizona (11), Wisconsin (10), and Nevada (6). These states are expected to be battlegrounds where the candidates are vying for every possible vote.
Early Results and Key States to Watch
Polls across the country will close starting at 7 p.m. ET, with some key states expected to yield early results. Among the first to watch are Georgia, Florida, and Virginia.
Georgia has long been a swing state, but experts caution against jumping to conclusions until more precincts have reported. Early reports could be misleading, especially in Georgia’s diverse urban and rural districts.
While Florida used to be considered a bellwether, it has shifted toward Republicans in recent years.
Despite this, Senate Democrats are hoping for a strong performance against Republican incumbent Rick Scott. Virginia, on the other hand, is expected to lean Democratic, though its suburban areas will be key in any potential surprises.
As the night unfolds, Indiana and Kentucky, which are expected to solidly back Trump, will be among the first states to close their polls.
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Meanwhile, South Carolina, Vermont, and New Hampshire are also expected to lean toward the Republican and Democratic sides, respectively.
Key Swing States
By 8 p.m. ET, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina will start to deliver results. Michigan’s results will be particularly important, as both campaigns have poured resources into the state, which remains a pivotal battleground in the fight for the Electoral College. Like Pennsylvania, Michigan’s late-reporting mail ballots could delay definitive calls here.
North Carolina, another crucial swing state, remains too close to call early in the evening. The state is grappling with both political polarization and the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which has impacted the recovery efforts in some areas.
Ohio, typically a Republican stronghold, will also be significant for Senate races. In particular, the reelection bid of Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown could be affected by Trump’s support in this area.
Watch for Senate and Congressional Races
In addition to the presidential race, control of Congress remains a key issue. Republicans are fighting to retain their razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, while Democrats are aiming to hold onto their 51-49 majority in the Senate.
Congressional control is crucial for the incoming president’s legislative agenda, as it impacts everything from passing bills to confirming judicial nominations.
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Several Senate races are closely watched, including Arizona, where Democrat Mark Kelly is defending his seat against Republican challengers, and Wisconsin, where incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin is facing Republican opposition. The outcome of these races could have a significant impact on the overall balance of power in Washington.
The West Coast and Late-Night Results
By 10 p.m. ET, results from Arizona and Wisconsin will start to come in. Both states are critical to Democrats’ hopes of securing a win, with Wisconsin forming part of the “blue wall” strategy Harris is relying on. Trump, however, has made significant inroads in Rust Belt states, so the outcome in Wisconsin is expected to be closely contested.
Arizona, a traditionally Republican state that has shifted toward the center in recent years, will also be a major focus. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix and the state’s largest urban population, is expected to play a pivotal role in the state’s outcome.
At 10:30 p.m. ET, Nevada, the final swing state to close, will offer some insight into how the West Coast votes are shaping up. Nevada has become a battleground in recent elections, with its large Latino population and union base making it a critical state for Democrats.
However, Trump’s political brand and strong support in rural areas could challenge Harris’s chances here.