Your Guide to Election Night: What You Need to Know
Get ready for Election Day with crucial details on how to follow the results as they come in.
Election Day has arrived, stirring excitement and anticipation across the nation! With voting in full swing, control of both the House and the Senate hangs in the balance, which will shape the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency.
Democrats are eyeing a net gain of three seats for the House and four for the Senate to seize control. As polls begin to close this evening, here’s everything you need to monitor the unfolding results.
Election Night Resources
To stay informed this Election Night, check out these essential guides and tools from NBC News:
- Viewing Guide: Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman have created a thorough guide detailing poll closing times in each state, early indicators of results, and key battlegrounds to watch.
- Understanding Exit Polls: Stephanie Perry explains how the NBC News Exit Poll operates and how the Decision Desk utilizes the data to inform viewers.
- Decision Desk Insights: John Lapinski, Stephen Pettigrew, and Marc Trussler discuss the elements that will help determine which party controls the House and Senate.
- Live Coverage: Don’t miss the Kornacki Cam! Steve Kornacki will be live at the Big Board starting at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by NBC News’ primetime coverage at 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Results Pages: Click through for real-time results: Senate; House; Governor.
- Live Updates: For instant updates, keep an eye on our live blog.
When to Expect Results
As polls begin to close, here are the crucial times to remember:
- 7 p.m. ET: Georgia, Indiana (some parts), Kentucky (some parts), South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia
- 7:30 p.m. ET: North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia
- 8 p.m. ET: Alabama, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Florida (some parts), Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee
- 8:30 p.m. ET: Arkansas
- 9 p.m. ET: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas (some parts), Louisiana, Michigan (some parts), Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota (some parts), South Dakota (some parts), Texas (some parts), Wisconsin, Wyoming
- 10 p.m. ET: Montana, Nevada, Utah
- 11 p.m. ET: California, Idaho (some parts), Oregon (some parts), Washington
- 12 a.m. ET: Hawaii
- 1 a.m. ET: Alaska (some parts)
Stay Updated
Alongside these resources, make sure to check in on other important stories from today:
- Weather Alerts: Election officials have had to shift polling locations in some areas due to severe weather, including flash flooding and tornadoes.
- Vote Monitoring: The Justice Department has deployed a record number of monitors to polling places nationwide.
- Ballot Issues: There were reports of ballot tabulators malfunctioning in Westchester County, sparking concerns among voters.
- SCOTUS Decision: The Supreme Court recently denied a request related to California’s mail-in ballots, ensuring a smoother voting process.
That's all for today's special edition. Expect to receive a follow-up in your inbox tomorrow morning, summarizing the results of the key races.