Millions of Americans will be eagerly sitting in front of their TVs on Tuesday night, waiting to see who will the 2024 presidential election.
The anxiety will undoubtedly be heavy for most voters as they see the numbers fluctuate throughout the night. Particularly for the people who may be confused about the election process or how the schedule works, it could be a nerve-wracking night.
In an effort to reduce some of that anxiety, we have provided a blueprint on how the schedule will unfold on election night.
Polls close early in populous Red/possible swing states
According to CNN, polls will close statewide in the six states, including Georgia (which could be a swing stage) and Florida, at 7 p.m. ET. In some parts of Indiana and Kentucky polls will close at 6 p.m. ET. Republican nominee Donald Trump will likely get a higher number of electoral votes early as polls close in red states like Ohio and Florida. Georgia expects to count up to 70% of its votes by 8 p.m.
Battleground state North Carolina and two red states close polls at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Battleground state North Carolina will close its polls at 7:30 p.m. ET. Red states Ohio (sometimes considered a swing or battleground state) and West Virginia will also close their polls at the same time. According to 270ToWin, West Virginia has primarily voted red since 1996. In 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 42%. He also defeated Joe Biden by 39% four years later in West Virginia. Ohio has voted Republican in the previous two elections as well, per 270ToWin.
Polls close At 8 p.m. ET in 17 states
Pennsylvania is one of 17 states that will close its polls at 8 p.m. ET. Michigan and Texas will also close their polls at this time. However, some counties in those states don’t close until 9 p.m. Trump is expected to have 123 electoral votes by this time while Kamala Harris will likely have 94. There could be 51 toss-up votes as well after polls close at 8 p.m. ET.
Half the states close polls by 8:30 p.m.
Arkansas, which is expected to support Trump, will close its polls at 8:30 p.m. ET. Trump can have 129 electoral votes after Arkansas, which has six electoral votes, closes its polls. Half the states will have their polls closed by this time.
New York closes at 9 p.m. ET
At 9 p.m. ET 15 states will close their polls. That includes battleground states Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin. New York will also close its polls at this time. Trump will have at least 202 electoral votes at this time and Harris could have 148.
California and other blue states close after 11 p.m.
The final battleground state, Nevada, will close its polls at 10 p.m. ET. Most of the Democratic votes will come in at 11 p.m. ET when California, Oregon and Washington close their polls. Hawaii, a blue state, and Alaska, a red state, will be the final states to close their polls at 12 a.m. ET and 1 a.m. ET.
