US election results: When the states will declare the winner

The first polling stations in the United States will close on Tuesday at 6:00 pm (Eastern time; 01:00 am Kyiv time), and the last ones will close at 01:00 am on Wednesday (Eastern time; 08:00 am Kyiv time). The first preliminary results will be announced after the polls close.

Swing states

The vote count usually takes longer in the swing states, where candidates from both parties have approximately equal chances of winning.

Georgia

Polls close at 7:00 pm Eastern time (02:00 am Kyiv time).

The vote count in this state is fast. Most voters in Georgia tend to vote early, and the vote count is usually relatively quick.

The share of mail-in ballots, which can often take longer to count, is expected to be small. The state may still be counting corrected mail-in ballots, absentee ballots, and provisional ballots for several days after the election.

North Carolina

Polls close at 7:30 pm Eastern time (02:30 am Kyiv time).

Early in-person voting is very popular in the state, so votes in North Carolina are usually counted very quickly. Yet, the results of early voting will not be announced immediately after the polls close.

In the last two elections, 98-99% of the votes in North Carolina were counted by midnight Eastern time (about 07:00 am Kyiv time).

Pennsylvania

Polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time (03:00 am Kyiv time).

Counting votes in this state takes longer, primarily because election officials are not allowed to start processing mail-in ballots until Election Day.

However, counting has accelerated from 2020 to 2022, in part thanks to new, faster equipment and a requirement that most counties continue counting ballots without stopping after the polls close, including at night.

Michigan

Polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time (03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time).

In the last two US elections, about half of the votes in Michigan were counted by midnight Eastern time (about 07:00 am Kyiv time), and most of the remaining votes were counted by noon the next day.

However, the state adopted important changes that could speed up the process. Michigan has introduced 9 days of early voting and now allows counties to start processing mail-in ballots before Election Day (although not all counties plan to use the new rule).

Wisconsin

Polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time (04:00 am Kyiv time).

Most of the counting in Wisconsin is likely to be completed on Wednesday. Poll workers can't start processing ballots until Election Day, but they are required to keep counting through the night until they are done.

A state official told CNN that full, unofficial results are unlikely to become public until the morning after the election.

Arizona

Polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time (04:00 am Kyiv time).

Most voters vote by mail. However, it can take several days to count the votes. The first results are usually available around 10:00 pm Eastern time (05:00 am Kyiv time), an hour after the polls close.

Although polling station workers are authorized to process ballots received before Election Day as soon as they are received, they must wait until the polls close to process those received on Election Day. This year, this may result in longer waits.

Officials there say it could take as long as 10-13 days for the full results to be available.

Nevada

Polls close at 10:00 pm Eastern time (05:00 am Kyiv time).

The vote count may take several days.

About half of the voters usually vote by mail, and the vote count usually takes several days. It may be faster than before thanks to new technologies and a rule that allows for faster tabulation. Ballots with postmarks can arrive at polling stations within four days after the election, until November 9.

Other states

Traditionally, votes cast on Election Day are counted first, followed by early votes and mail-in ballots, and then challenged ballots, as well as votes sent from abroad and military ballots.

Alabama (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time).

Unofficial results will be available by noon Eastern time on Wednesday (about 7:00 pm Kyiv time).

Alaska (polls close at midnight and 01:00 am Eastern time; 07:00 am and 08:00 am Kyiv time).

The first results are expected around 01:00 am Eastern time (08:00 am Kyiv time). Some ballots will be counted late on election night, with further counts to follow 15 days later.

Arkansas (polls close at 8:30 pm Eastern time; 03:30 am Kyiv time)

Officials did not estimate how long it would take to count the votes, but most results are usually in by noon ET on Wednesday. Only a small proportion of voters cast ballots by mail in the state.

California (polls close at 11:00 pm Eastern time; 06:00 am Kyiv time)

The majority of voters vote by mail, and it can take several days or even weeks for the votes to be counted.

Colorado (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

The state has long held elections by mail. In 2020, it took about a day to count 95% of the votes, and almost four days in the 2022 midterm election. The timing largely depends on how many ballots are received on election day.

Connecticut (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last election, most votes were counted by noon on Wednesday, and 11% of voters cast their ballots by mail. The state recently introduced early in-person voting, but these ballots cannot be opened or counted until Election Day.

Delaware (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials expect 100% of the votes to be counted by midnight (about 07:00 am Kyiv time).

District of Columbia (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last US presidential election, about 69% of the votes were counted by noon on Wednesday. In the midterm election in 2022, this share was 80%.

Florida (polls close at 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm Eastern time; 02:00 am and 03:00 am Kyiv time)

The vote count is extremely fast: in both previous general elections, 99% of the votes were counted by midnight. The first results are expected after the majority of polling stations close at 7:00 pm Eastern time.

Hawaii (polls close at midnight Eastern time; 07:00 am Kyiv time)

The state holds mostly mail-in elections. In 2020, 95% of the votes were counted by about 7:00 am EST on Wednesday (2:00 pm Kyiv time).

Idaho (polls close at 10:00 pm and 11:00 pm Eastern time; 05:00 am and 06:00 am Kyiv time)

The state doesn't expect the pace of vote counting to be much different from previous elections, although 2020 was probably an exception. In that case, most results were known by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time. The first results are expected after 11:00 pm EST.

Illinois (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Reporting may be similar to that of 2022 when more than 90% of the votes were counted by noon ET on Wednesday.

Indiana (polls close at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm Eastern time; 01:00 am and 02:00 am Kyiv time)

In 2022, most ballots were counted by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time. The first results are expected after polls close in most states at 6:00 pm ET.

Iowa (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

In 2022, after the polls closed one hour earlier, 95% of the votes were counted by midnight Eastern time.

Kansas (polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time)

A majority of votes may be counted by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

Kentucky (polls close at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm Eastern time; 01:00 am and 02:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials in this state have expressed hope that they will be able to report preliminary results by midnight Eastern time tonight.

Louisiana (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Unofficial results may not be known until noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

Maine (polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time)

The state expects a similar reporting pace to 2020 when most results were in by noon the following day.

Maryland (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials said they have no reason to believe the pace of the vote count will be different from the 2020 and 2022 elections when more than 70% of the vote was counted by noon ET on Wednesday. Postmarked ballots received on or after Election Day will be counted two days after the election.

Massachusetts (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last election, more than 90% of the state's votes were counted by noon on Wednesday, with more than a third of voters casting ballots by mail. Ballots postmarked by Election Day should arrive within three days.

Minnesota (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Most counties will likely report results after midnight Eastern time.

Mississippi (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials believe that the reporting will not differ from previous major elections when 80 to 90% of the votes were counted by noon on Wednesday.

Missouri (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Most counties are expected to report at the same rate as in the last general election when unofficial results were available by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

Montana (polls close at 10:00 pm Eastern time; 05:00 am Kyiv time)

Most voters vote by mail, which must be received by Election Day. Last time, 90% of the votes were counted by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

Nebraska (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials expect the vote count to follow the same trend as in the last election, with a majority of votes counted by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

New Hampshire (polls close at 7:00 pm, 7:30 pm and 8:00 pm Eastern time; 02:00 am, 02:30 am and 03:00 am Kyiv time)

The exception is the small town of Dixville Notch, a small town that has already voted. There were 6 votes, they were divided equally between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.

For example, in 2020, vote counting in the state continued the day after the election.

New Jersey (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

In 2021, the state introduced early in-person voting, and voting by mail was significantly reduced compared to 2020 levels. In 2022, about 90% of the ballots in the US Congressional election were counted by noon the day after the election.

New Mexico (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last two general elections, preliminary results were reported by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

New York City (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials refuse to comment on the timing of the vote count. But there have been some recent changes that could affect the reporting timeframe.

North Dakota (polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last two elections, unofficial results were reported by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time. Ballots received after Election Day will not be counted until two weeks after the election.

Ohio (polls close at 7:30 pm Eastern time; 02:30 am Kyiv time)

The results of the majority of votes in this state are usually reported on election night. The level of voting by mail has decreased there.

Oklahoma (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last general election, almost all votes were counted by midnight Eastern time on election night.

Oregon (polls close at 11:00 pm Eastern; 06:00 am Kyiv)

Officials said it would take several days to count the results. In 2021, a new law was passed in the state, which holds elections by mail, allowing ballots postmarked before Election Day to be received seven days later.

Rhode Island (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

The vote count in the state is expected to be similar to 2022 when 99% of the votes were counted by midnight on election night.

South Carolina (polls close at 7:00 pm Eastern time; 02:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials expressed expectations that the majority of votes would be counted by noon on Wednesday, Eastern time.

South Dakota (polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time)

In the last general election, about a quarter of voters cast their ballots by mail, and 90% to 100% of the votes were counted by noon Wednesday, Eastern time. The first results are expected after 9:00 pm after the last polling stations in the state close.

Tennessee (polls close at 8:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am Kyiv time)

Full or nearly full results of the last general election were released at midnight Eastern time (about 07:00 am Kyiv time).

Texas (polls close at 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Eastern time; 03:00 am and 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Most votes are usually counted on election night. Voting by mail requires a valid reason and therefore only a small proportion of voters vote this way. The first results are expected after polls close in most states, at 8:00 pm Eastern time.

Utah (polls close at 10:00 pm Eastern time; 05:00 am Kyiv time)

Most voters vote by mail, so officials say the time it takes to tabulate results will largely depend on how many ballots are returned at the last minute. Ballots mailed the day before the election should be delivered two weeks before Election Day.

Vermont (polls close at 7:00 pm Eastern time; 02:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials say they have no reason to believe the pace of the vote count will be different from 2020 and 2022 when almost all votes were counted by noon on Wednesday.

Washington, DC (polls close at 11:00 pm Eastern time; 06:00 am Kyiv time)

Officials expect full unofficial results five to seven days after the election (although postmarked ballots should arrive in 20 days). This largely depends on how many ballots are returned early.

West Virginia (polls close at 7:30 pm Eastern time; 02:30 am Kyiv time)

Almost all unofficial results are usually known by noon on Wednesday. Officials say they have no reason to believe it will be any different this year.

Wyoming (polls close at 9:00 pm Eastern time; 04:00 am Kyiv time)

Preliminary unofficial results in 2020 were reported by noon Wednesday, Eastern time. Officials say there is no doubt that this time will be the same.

US election

Tuesday, November 5 is the day of the 2024 presidential election in the United States. The candidates for this position are the US Vice President Democrat Kamala Harris and former US President Republican Donald Trump.

Today, Americans are going to the polls to cast their votes. The election process takes place through the Electoral College (a candidate needs at least 270 of the total 538 Electoral College votes).

The most crucial states in the race are the swing states where the competition between Harris and Trump is predicted to be the fiercest. They are: Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada.

The inauguration of the newly elected US president will take place on January 20, 2025.

Read more about the US election and why both possible outcomes do not bode well for Ukraine in the article Coin tossed: Will Ukraine see good news after US presidential election.

Sources: CNN, The New York Times.