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ELECTION NIGHT

When Do Polls Close?

2026 poll closing times, in Eastern time.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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§ 1 · POLL TIMES

6 p.m. ET: First

Most of Indiana and Kentucky close first.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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§ 2 · POLL TIMES

7-7:30 p.m. ET

Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, then North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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§ 3 · POLL TIMES

8 p.m. ET: Big Wave

Pennsylvania, most of Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and many more close.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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§ 4 · POLL TIMES

9-11 p.m. ET

Arizona, Wisconsin, New York at 9; the West Coast at 11.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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§ 5 · POLL TIMES

1 a.m. ET: Last

Alaska's Aleutian Islands close last. In line at closing? Stay in line to vote.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

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Thanks for Reading

Every state, in Eastern time, plus why some results take days.

Photo: Phil Roeder / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)