Election Day in the United States is now often considered election week as each state follows its own rules and practices for counting ballots — not to mention the legal challenges — that can delay the results. But the truth is, nobody knows how long it will take for the winner to be announced this time.
In 2020, The Associated Press declared President Joe Biden the winner on Saturday afternoon — four days after polls closed. But even then, The AP called North Carolina for Trump 10 days after Election Day and Georgia for Biden 16 days later after hand recounts.
Four years earlier, the 2016 election was decided just hours after most polls closed. The AP declared Trump the winner on election night at 2:29 a.m. (it was technically Wednesday morning on the East Coast).
This time, both campaigns believe the race is extremely close across the seven swing states that are expected to decide the election, barring a major surprise: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The size of the map and the tightness of the race make it hard to predict when a winner could be declared.
Here’s when polls close in every state — and how long it might take to count votes:
Alabama
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET (portions of some counties that operate in Eastern Time have the option to close at 7 p.m. Eastern).
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:11 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 84% of total votes cast were reported.
Alaska
Poll closing time
12 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET. Alaska covers two time zones. Votes could be released as early as 45 minutes after voting ends in the first time zone, at midnight ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 1:15 a.m. ET. on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
By 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 4: about 44% of total votes cast were reported.
Arizona
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET. Arizona does not release votes until all precincts have reported or one hour after all polls are closed, whichever is first, usually 10 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 10:02 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 72% of total votes cast were reported.
Arkansas
Poll closing time
8:30 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:38 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 79% of total votes cast were reported.
California
Poll closing time
11 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11:04 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 54% of total votes cast were reported.
Colorado
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:02 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 86% of total votes cast were reported.
Connecticut
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:11 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 37% of total votes cast were reported.
Delaware
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:16 p.m. ET
By midnight ET: about 99% of total votes cast were reported
Florida
Poll closing time
7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Florida covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in the panhandle are casting ballots until 8 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 99% of total votes cast were reported.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:04 p.m. ET.
Georgia
Poll closing time
7 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:20 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 77% of total votes cast were reported.
Hawaii
Poll closing time
12 a.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 4:44 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4
By 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 4: about 95% of total votes cast were reported.
Idaho
Poll closing time
11 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11:04 p.m. ET..
By midnight ET: about 50% of total votes cast were reported.
Illinois
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:09 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 74% of total votes cast were reported.
Indiana
Poll closing time
6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET. Indiana covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in the southwest are casting ballots until 7 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 6:03 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 77% of total votes cast were reported.
Iowa
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 10:11 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 82% of total votes cast were reported.
Kansas
Poll closing time
8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. Kansas covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in western counties are casting ballots until 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET).
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:07 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 87% of total votes cast were reported.
Kentucky
Poll closing time
6 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET. Kentucky covers two time zones, so half the state will start reporting results while voters in western counties are casting ballots until 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET).
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 6:16 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 98% of total votes cast were reported.
Louisiana
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:06 p.m. ET
By midnight ET: about 88% of total votes cast were reported.
Maine
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:16 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 56% of total votes cast were reported.
Maryland
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:55 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 8% of total votes cast were reported.
Massachusetts
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:09 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 72% of total votes cast were reported.
Michigan
Poll closing time
8 p.m. & 9 p.m. ET. Michigan covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in the Upper Peninsula are casting ballots until 9 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:08 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 45% of total votes cast were reported.
Minnesota
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:08 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 66% of total votes cast were reported.
Mississippi
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:18 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 60% of total votes cast were reported.
Missouri
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:19 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 68% of total votes cast were reported.
Montana
Poll closing time
10 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 10:06 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 50% of total votes cast were reported.
Nebraska
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:02 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 71% of total votes cast were reported.
Nevada
Poll closing time
10 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11:41 p.m. ET.
By 6 a.m. ET on Nov. 4, 2020: about 79% of total votes cast were reported.
New Hampshire
Poll closing time
7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET, depending on the municipality.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:22 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 63% of total votes cast were reported.
New Jersey
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:18 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 32% of total votes cast were reported.
New Mexico
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:24 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 78% of total votes cast were reported.
New York
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:28 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 63% of total votes cast were reported.
North Carolina
Poll closing time
7:30 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:42 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 99% of total votes cast were reported.
North Dakota
Poll closing time
8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. North Dakota covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in the southwest are still casting ballots until 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET).
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:46 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 92% of total votes cast were reported.
Ohio
Poll closing time
7:30 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:39 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 95% of total votes cast were reported.
Oklahoma
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:19 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 98% of total votes cast were reported.
Oregon
Poll closing time
11 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 80% of total votes cast were reported.
Pennsylvania
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:09 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 54% of total votes cast were reported.
Rhode Island
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:11 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 52% of total votes cast were reported.
South Carolina
Poll closing time
7 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:09 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 65% of total votes cast were reported.
South Dakota
Poll closing time
8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. South Dakota covers two time zones but will not release any results until final polls in the state close at 7 p.m. MT (9 p.m. ET).
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 66% of total votes cast were reported.
Tennessee
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8:05 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 98% of total votes cast were reported.
Texas
Poll closing time
8 p.m. and 9 p.m. E.T. Texas covers two time zones, so most of the state will start reporting results while some voters in a few western counties are casting ballots until 9 p.m. ET.
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 8 p.m. ET
By midnight ET: about 91% of total votes cast were reported.
Utah
Poll closing time
10 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 10:01 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 63% of total votes cast were reported.
Vermont
Poll closing time
7 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:24 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 94% of total votes cast were reported.
Virginia
Poll closing time
7 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:03 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 71% of total votes cast were reported.
Washington
Poll closing time
11 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 11:13 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 81% of total votes cast were reported.
Washington, DC
Poll closing time
8 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:21 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 55% of total votes cast were reported.
West Virginia
Poll closing time
7:30 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 7:57 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 96% of total votes cast were reported.
Wisconsin
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:07 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 70% of total votes cast were reported.
Wyoming
Poll closing time
9 p.m. ET
How long does vote-counting take?
First votes reported, Nov. 3, 2020: 9:54 p.m. ET.
By midnight ET: about 62% of total votes cast were reported.
