When Polls Close, Which Races Matter, and How Long Americans May Wait for Results
Americans are heading to the polls Tuesday for the 2026 midterm elections, with control of Congress, numerous governorships, and thousands of state and local offices at stake. While results from some states could become clear shortly after voting ends, closely contested races may remain unresolved well into Wednesday or even for several days.
The first polls begin closing at 6 p.m. Eastern, setting off a series of reporting deadlines that will stretch past midnight. The busiest periods will come at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., when voting concludes across much of the country and election officials begin releasing results from major battleground states.
For New York and New Jersey voters, the 9 p.m. closing time in New York will be particularly important, with the state’s gubernatorial contest and competitive congressional races among those attracting attention. New Jersey polls close an hour earlier, at 8 p.m.
All times below are Eastern Standard Time.
6 P.M. — FIRST RESULTS FROM INDIANA AND KENTUCKY
The earliest polls close in portions of Indiana and Kentucky, giving election watchers their first glimpse of voter preferences. However, statewide results cannot be called until voting concludes in the remaining areas of both states at 7 p.m.
Among the congressional contests attracting attention are Indiana’s 5th District and Kentucky’s 6th District.
7 P.M. — GEORGIA, VIRGINIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA ENTER THE PICTURE
Voting concludes in six states, including Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia, which have historically reported results relatively quickly.
During the 2024 presidential election, all three states had counted approximately half their ballots by the 8 p.m. hour. Georgia reached 90% of its count at 10:21 p.m., South Carolina at 11:14 p.m., and Virginia shortly after midnight.
Most Florida polling locations also close at 7 p.m., including those in competitive congressional districts, although statewide winners cannot be announced until voting ends in the state’s western Panhandle at 8 p.m.
7:30 P.M. — NORTH CAROLINA AND OHIO JOIN THE COUNT
Polls close in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, bringing additional Senate, gubernatorial and congressional contests into focus.
All three states have generally processed ballots at a relatively brisk pace. In 2024, they reached approximately 50% of their counts around 9 p.m. and approached 90% during the 11 p.m. hour.
The Associated Press called Ohio’s closely watched 2024 Senate election at 11:27 p.m.
Major contests during the 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. periods include Senate races in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Ohio, along with gubernatorial elections in Georgia and Ohio and several competitive House districts.
8 P.M. — THE FIRST MAJOR WAVE OF RESULTS
One of the night’s most consequential reporting periods arrives at 8 p.m., when polls close fully or partially in nearly half the country.
Florida, Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania are among the states to watch, with important Senate, gubernatorial and congressional contests on the ballot.
Florida is traditionally among the fastest states to report its results. In 2024, approximately 90% of ballots had been counted by 8:07 p.m.
Pennsylvania and New Hampshire typically require more time. Both reached the halfway point around 10 p.m. in 2024, with Pennsylvania reaching 90% shortly before 1 a.m. and New Hampshire approaching that level around 1:42 a.m.
Maine’s count was considerably slower, reaching 50% only at 12:54 a.m.
Most polling places in Michigan and Texas also close at 8 p.m., although statewide races cannot be called until voting concludes in their remaining time zones at 9 p.m.
Arkansas follows with an 8:30 p.m. closing time.
9 P.M. — NEW YORK, MICHIGAN AND WISCONSIN TAKE CENTER STAGE
Another major round of poll closings arrives at 9 p.m., with voting ending in numerous battleground states, including New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas and Arizona. Statewide voting also concludes in Texas.
