The United States is a step closer to finding out who the next president and vice president will be, as voting concludes on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Democratic candidates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and Republican candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, are preparing to go head-to-head for the nation’s highest offices.
While many citizens have already mailed their ballots or voted in person, those who haven’t yet may be wondering what information they need before heading to a polling location, such as what time polls open. For more details on how to vote, keep reading below.
Made a few friends at the polls. pic.twitter.com/uYw5Huykdt
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 2, 2024
Where Can You Vote?
Voting takes place at various public facilities depending on location. To find where you can vote, visit iwillvote.com.
What Time Do Polls Open on Election Day?
Each state has different poll opening times. For instance, Vermont opens as early as 5:00 a.m. ET, while some states start later, with the latest being 12 p.m. ET. Below is a general schedule of the times, according to CBS News.
5 a.m. Eastern Time
Vermont (varies by town between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.)
6 a.m. Eastern Time
Connecticut
Kentucky (Western areas open at 7 a.m. ET)
Maine (varies by town between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.)
New Jersey
New York
Virginia
6:30 a.m. Eastern Time
North Carolina
Ohio
West Virginia
7 a.m. Eastern Time
Alabama
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida (parts of the Panhandle on Central Time open at 8 a.m. ET)
Georgia
New Hampshire (varies)
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas (varies by county)
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan (Upper Peninsula counties open at 8 a.m. ET)
Missouri
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island (New Shoreham opens at 9 a.m. ET)
South Carolina
Wyoming
8 a.m. Eastern Time
Arizona
Iowa
Minnesota
Mississippi
Oklahoma
North Dakota
South Dakota (Western areas open at 9 a.m. ET)
Tennessee
Texas (some Western counties open at 9 a.m. ET)
Wisconsin
8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
9 a.m. Eastern Time
Colorado
Montana (counties with fewer than 400 registered voters may open as late as 2 p.m. ET)
Nebraska
Nevada (most open at 10 a.m. ET, except City Hall in West Wendover)
New Mexico
Utah
10 a.m. Eastern Time
California
Idaho (Northern locations open at 11 a.m. ET)
11 a.m. Eastern Time
Washington (varies by county)
Alaska (except Adak)
12 p.m. Eastern Time
When Do the Polls Close?
Each state has its own closing times. Polls begin closing at 7:00 p.m. ET, with some of the latest closures occurring around midnight for states like Hawaii and Alaska, according to CBS News.
When Will We Know the Election Results?
In some cases, the president and vice president are announced on Election Day, but in others, results may take over 24 hours. This is due to the time needed to count all the votes as well as waiting on key swing states, which can impact the final outcome by leaning toward either the Democratic or Republican side.