American voters head to the polls on Tuesday to elect their next president. Typically, US election results are announced state by state soon after polls close, providing a live tally throughout the evening. However, this year’s tight race may lead to a longer wait.
When will the 2024 presidential election results be known?
The first polls close at 6:00 p.m. EST (11:00 p.m. GMT) on Tuesday, with the final polls closing by 1:00 a.m. EST (6:00 a.m. GMT) early Wednesday. In some elections, the winner is clear by late election night or early the next morning. But the close race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump may mean a delay in media projections.
Close margins could also trigger recounts. For instance, in Pennsylvania, a recount is mandatory if the margin between the top candidates is within 0.5%. The 2020 election saw a narrow 1.1% margin in that state. Additionally, more than 100 legal challenges have already been filed, mostly by Republicans concerning voter eligibility and voter roll management, which could further extend the wait for a final result.
Certain logistical factors may speed things up, though. Vote-counting has improved in key states like Michigan, and fewer mail-in ballots have been cast compared to 2020.
Past election result timelines
In the 2020 election, it took four days after Election Day for Joe Biden to be declared the winner, as the outcome in Pennsylvania was uncertain. In contrast, past elections were often decided more quickly. Trump’s 2016 win was announced by 3:00 a.m. EST, while Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election was projected before midnight. An exception was the 2000 election, which took five weeks to resolve due to Florida’s contested vote count and was ultimately settled by a Supreme Court decision in George W. Bush’s favor.
Key swing states to watch
The 2024 election may hinge on the results from seven pivotal swing states, where Harris and Trump both have strong chances. Early voting turnout has already been high, with record-breaking numbers, especially in Georgia.
Georgia – Polls close in the Peach State at 19:00 EST (00:00 GMT). Georgia’s top election official estimates that about 75% of votes will be counted within the first two hours.
North Carolina – Polls close 30 minutes after Georgia. North Carolina’s results are expected to be announced before the end of the night.
Pennsylvania – Voting ends at 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT) but experts agree it may take at least 24 hours before enough votes are counted for a winner to emerge.
Michigan – Voting concludes at 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT). A result is not expected until the end of Wednesday.
Wisconsin – Results should come in shortly after polls close at 21:00 EST for smaller counties but experts predict the state won’t have a result until at least Wednesday.
Arizona – Initial results could come as early as 22:00 EST (03:00 GMT) but the state’s largest county says not to expect results until early Wednesday morning. Postal ballots dropped off on election day could take up to 13 days to count.
Nevada – Votes here could also take days to count. The state allows mail-in ballots as long as they were sent on election day and arrive no later than 9 November.
