The electoral process in the United States is reaching a pivotal moment this Tuesday, as the nation gears up for a crucial election that will shape its future. In a fiercely contested race, Vice President Kamala Harris is going head-to-head with former President Donald Trump. Voters will not only decide the presidency but also the makeup of Congress and various state measures.
Given the vastness and diversity of the United States, polling places in each state close at different times, which can affect the timing of result coverage and the anticipation surrounding the election's conclusion. In Florida, polls are scheduled to close at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), due to the state spanning two time zones, according to AP.
Most of Florida will begin reporting results while some areas in the Panhandle will continue voting until 8:00 p.m. ET. Preliminary election results will not be released until all polls are closed at 8:00 p.m. ET.
States Closing Polls Alongside Florida
Along with Florida, other states closing their polls between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. include Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, Vermont, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Tennessee, as reported by CNN.
Florida, renowned for its swift counting process, typically begins reporting early votes and absentee ballots soon after the polls close, noted El País. A significant portion of the results might be available by 9:00 p.m. ET.
Poll Closing Times Across the Nation
In the rest of the country, polls will close at various times. Polling stations in Kentucky and much of Indiana will close at 6:00 p.m. ET. Between 8:30 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. ET, polls will close in states such as Arkansas, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Texas, Wyoming, Nevada, Montana, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Staying Informed on Election Night
El País noted that as the election night progresses, results can be followed through various media outlets. Major networks like CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and the primary networks ABC, NBC, and CBS will provide continuous updates and analyses, maintaining their tradition of declaring which states each candidate wins and adding up the electoral votes to be counted by the Electoral College.
There will be live broadcasts of the election night on YouTube and social media platforms, while some election tracking websites, such as FiveThirtyEight, The New York Times, and Politico, will offer interactive maps and detailed county-level results. Besides traditional methods, several apps and websites allow real-time election updates. Top recommendations include "Election 2024" for Android, "Presidential & US Election App" for iOS, featuring interactive maps and analysis, and "Election Tracker" for iOS, which tracks votes by electoral college.
Apple News has also launched a special feature to follow live results from iOS devices, while El País will provide live results coverage accessible through its app available for both Android and iOS.
Florida's Electoral Trends
Historically, in U.S. presidential elections, Republicans tend to win in Florida, while Democrats often secure victory in Miami-Dade County. On November 5, 2024, Americans head to the polls to choose between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, in an election that has drawn international attention and polarized voters in the United States.
As is customary, millions of Americans have already cast their votes early or by mail. As of this Tuesday, over 78 million votes have been received across 47 states and the District of Columbia. Early voting centers in Miami-Dade closed this past Sunday after an intense period where more than half of the voters exercised their right to vote. In total, 539,512 people voted early in the county: 41.9% were Republicans, 29% Democrats, and 26.9% independents, according to official figures.