Quick answer: On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, the first polls close at 6 p.m. ET in most of Indiana and Kentucky, and the last close at 1 a.m. ET Wednesday in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Most states close between 7 and 9 p.m. ET. Daylight saving time ended on Nov. 1, so every state is on standard time. If you are in line when polls close, stay in line: you can still vote.
Election night runs on a schedule, and knowing it helps you plan your own vote too. Polls close in waves from east to west, and that order shapes when results start to appear. This guide lists when voting ends in every state, in Eastern time, plus what “close” really means for people still in line and why results in some states take longer.
Poll closing times by state (Eastern time)
| Time (ET) | States where polls close |
|---|---|
| 6 p.m. | Indiana and Kentucky (Eastern time zone portions) |
| 7 p.m. | Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, most of Florida; rest of Indiana and Kentucky; some New Hampshire towns |
| 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia |
| 8 p.m. | Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee; most of Michigan, New Hampshire, Texas, Kansas and South Dakota; Florida panhandle |
| 8:30 p.m. | Arkansas |
| 9 p.m. | Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Wisconsin, Wyoming; western Texas, Kansas, South Dakota and North Dakota; Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula |
| 10 p.m. | Montana, Nevada, Utah; most of Idaho |
| 11 p.m. | California, Oregon, Washington; northern Idaho |
| Midnight | Hawaii; most of Alaska |
| 1 a.m. Wednesday | Alaska’s Aleutian Islands |
Several states cross time zones, so closing times differ by county. North Dakota’s counties close at different hours. Always check your county election office or your state’s official election website for your exact hours.
In line when polls close? Stay there
In general, if you are in line at your polling place when polls officially close, you have the right to vote. Poll workers usually mark the end of the line at closing time. Don’t leave because the line is long or because someone tells you polls are closed. If you have a problem, ask a poll worker for help or call the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683), a nonpartisan voter help line.
Made-up example (not a real person): Tasha in Atlanta leaves work late and reaches her polling place at 6:55 p.m. The line wraps around the building. At 7 p.m., a poll worker stands behind the last person in line. Tasha is ahead of that spot, so she waits 40 minutes and votes. Someone who arrives at 7:01 p.m. would be too late, which is why getting in line before closing time matters more than reaching the front.
When do polls open?
Opening times also vary. Most polling places open between 6 and 7 a.m. local time, and a few open earlier. Vermont lets towns set opening times within a window, and some small New Hampshire towns traditionally open at midnight. If you plan to vote before work, check your local hours the night before.
Also read: When Will We Know the 2026 Midterm Election Results?
Why results come in at different speeds
- Closing time: states in the East report first simply because their polls close first.
- Mail ballot rules: some states can begin processing mail ballots before Election Day, so results come quickly. Others cannot start until Election Day, which slows the count.
- Late-arriving ballots: several states count mail ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive in the days after, so close races there can take days.
- Close races: news organizations wait to project a winner until the math is clear. A slow call doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
- Recounts: very close results can trigger automatic recounts under state law.
What to watch on election night, hour by hour
| Time (ET) | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6–7 p.m. | First results from Indiana and Kentucky; Georgia and Virginia close |
| 7:30 p.m. | North Carolina and Ohio close: key Senate and House races |
| 8 p.m. | The biggest wave: Pennsylvania, Michigan and many others close |
| 9 p.m. | Arizona, Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York close |
| 10–11 p.m. | Western states close; California’s large mail vote takes days to count |
| Midnight onward | Hawaii and Alaska close; many close races remain uncalled |
With all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot this year, including special elections in Ohio and Florida, control of Congress may not be clear on election night.
Last-minute voting checklist
- Confirm your polling place. It can change between elections. Check your state election website or vote.org.
- Check your hours, especially if your state crosses time zones.
- Bring ID if your state asks for it. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 36 states request or require some form of ID at the polls.
- Return mail ballots correctly. Many states let you drop off a mail ballot at a drop box or election office until polls close. Check your state’s deadline.
- Know your options if there’s a problem. If your name isn’t on the list, ask for a provisional ballot.
Still have a mail ballot at home?
If you haven’t mailed your absentee or mail ballot yet, it may be too late to rely on the post office. Most states let you return a completed mail ballot in person on Election Day instead:
- Use an official drop box or take it to your county election office before polls close.
- Check whether your polling place accepts mail ballots. Rules vary by state.
- Sign the envelope. A missing signature is one of the most common reasons mail ballots are rejected.
- Changed your mind? Many states let you surrender your mail ballot at the polls and vote in person, or vote a provisional ballot instead. Ask a poll worker.
If you mailed your ballot already, many states let you track it online through your state election website, so you can confirm it was received and counted.
How to follow results the right way
- Use official sources such as your state or county election website for vote counts.
- Remember that “percent reporting” is an estimate of how much of the expected vote has been counted, not a final number.
- Be careful with viral posts. Screenshots claiming fraud or final results spread fast on election night. Check them against official sites or established news outlets before sharing.
Common election night myths
- “If results aren’t in by midnight, something is wrong.” Not true. Counting mail and provisional ballots legally takes time in many states.
- “Early results show who will win.” Early returns can tilt one way and shift as different types of ballots are counted.
- “Polls closing means voting is over everywhere.” Polls close at different times across the country, and people in line can still vote.
- “A network projection is the official result.” Projections are estimates. Official results are certified by states in the days and weeks after the election.
Voting from a different time zone?
Your polling hours follow the location of your polling place, not where you work or what time your phone shows. If you commute across a time zone line, such as between parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee or Florida, double-check the local closing time for your precinct. If you vote by mail, your ballot deadline also follows your state’s rules, not your current location.
FAQ
What time do polls close on Election Day 2026?
The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky. Most states close between 7 and 9 p.m. ET, West Coast states at 11 p.m. ET, and the last polls in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands at 1 a.m. ET Wednesday.
Can I still vote if I’m in line when polls close?
Yes. In general, anyone in line at closing time is allowed to vote. Stay in line.
Is daylight saving time still in effect on Election Day?
No. Daylight saving time ended on Nov. 1, 2026, so all states are on standard time on Nov. 3.
Which state’s polls close last?
Alaska. Polls in the Aleutian Islands close at 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
Where can I find my exact polling hours?
Check your state or county election office website, or use vote.org to look up your polling place and hours.
Bottom line
Know your local closing time, get in line before it, and stay in line if it’s long. Results will roll in from east to west starting at 6 p.m. ET, but close races, especially in mail-heavy states, may take days to call.
Last reviewed: Nov. 2, 2026. Poll times can vary by county; confirm with your local election office.
Sources: Quartz: Poll closing times 2026; Fox News: 2026 Election Day poll closing; NCSL: Voter ID laws; USA.gov: Election Day; Election Protection (866-OUR-VOTE).
Featured image: A voter fills out a ballot on Election Day. Photo: Phil Roeder via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0; edited by Nexgen Headlines.
