US presidential election starts at polls: How long voting lasts
Photo: Voting has begun in the US election (Getty Images)
Voting at polling stations has started in the US presidential election. Polling stations on the East Coast were the first to open.
Polling stations are usually open from early morning to late evening. Most of them open between 6 and 8 a.m. and close between 7 and 9 p.m. local time.
The exact hours of operation are determined by each state and may differ even by county. This is especially true for states that are located in several time zones. Such as Indiana, Kentucky, Idaho, and North and South Dakota.
Today, the first polling stations for physical voting opened at 5 a.m. EST in Vermont. But not in all counties, the rest are expected to open their doors to voters by 10 a.m.
The small village of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, voted before that. According to tradition, the polling station there opens immediately after midnight. 6 voters cast 3 votes each for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
When polls open in other states
Next, at 6 a.m., polls will open in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Virginia, and partially in Indiana, Kentucky, and Maine. In half an hour, polls will open in North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia.
In an hour, physical voting will begin at polling stations in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina. And also partially in Florida, Kansas, Michigan, and Tennessee.
Next hour voting will begin in Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and partially in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Texas. Then in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon.
California, Nevada, and Washington state start voting next. An hour later, voters will be able to cast their ballots in Alaska, and then in Hawaii.
When polls close
The first polls will close in eastern Kentucky and most of Indiana at 6 p.m. EST. An hour later, they will close in Georgia, Virginia, and four other states. Then in North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia, and then in Pennsylvania and 15 other states.
The next are polling stations in Arkansas, Michigan, Wisconsin, and 13 other states, including New York. In an hour, voting will end in Nevada, Montana, and Utah. And in another hour in California. Polling stations in Hawaii and most of Alaska will be the last to close.
It is noteworthy that if someone is standing in line when the closing time approaches, the voter still has the right to vote.
In some states, you need to have an ID. In others, such as Colorado and Florida, it is enough to present utility bills in your name. If a voter's name does not appear on the list, they may be issued a provisional ballot. Such a vote will be counted after the voter's eligibility is confirmed.
The vote count begins immediately after the polls close. If the outcome of the race is clear, the winner may be announced on election night or the next morning. If the result is disputed, the final decision may take several days or weeks.
Read more in the article Trump vs. Harris: US election key points and when results to be available.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine wrote that the US election results depend on seven so-called swing states. According to the latest polls, the ratings of candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are almost the same there as in the whole country.
The current election is particularly important for Ukraine, as it determines whether the United States will continue its financial and military support in the fight against the Russian invasion. Or whether they will start to push for peace talks on Moscow's terms.
Read more about this in the article Harris or Trump? What US election results mean for Ukraine.
