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When do polls open on Election Day?

A complete guide to poll opening times for every state for Election Day 2024.

WASHINGTON — Election Day 2024 is nearly here with control of the White House and the narrowly divided Senate and House hanging in the balance. 

While early voting is a major factor in some states, tens of millions will head to the polls across the country in-person on Tuesday, Nov. 5. 

Chances are some election winners will be declared just as the polls close in certain states. But it may be a while before we know who won some of the most competitive and hotly contested races. 

Here are the poll opening and closing times for all 50 states. Remember, as long as you're in line by the time polls close on Election Day, you can still cast your ballot.

Note that the times are all adjusted in the list for Eastern Time. Some poll closing times may vary by location, so be sure to check local guidelines. For states spanning multiple time zones, we've listed the state based on when the majority of locations close. 

6:00 AM Eastern Opening

Indiana (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 6 PM local time, most of state in Eastern Time Zone, part in Central Time Zone)

Kentucky (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 6 PM local time, part of state in Eastern Time Zone, part in Central Time Zone)

Virginia (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 7 PM)

Connecticut (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 8 PM)

New York (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 9 PM)

New Jersey (Polls open at 6 AM and close at 8 PM )

6:30 AM Eastern Opening 

North Carolina (Polls open at 6:30 AM and close at 7:30 PM)

Ohio (Polls open at 6:30 AM and close at 7:30 PM)

West Virginia (Polls open at 6:30 AM and close at 7:30 PM)

7:00 AM Eastern Opening

Florida (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM local time, most of state in Eastern Time Zone, part in Central Time Zone)

Louisiana (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 9 PM

Missouri (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Georgia (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM)

South Carolina (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM)

Alabama (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM local time, a couple cities in Eastern Time Zone)

Delaware (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Washington, D.C. (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Maryland (Polls open at 7 AM and close 8 PM)

Massachusetts (Polls open at 7 AM (as early as 5:45 AM for some locations) and close at 8 PM

Michigan (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM local time - Majority of state in Eastern, part in Central)

Pennsylvania (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Rhode Island (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Minnesota (Polls close 8 PM local time; most polls open at 7 AM.)

South Dakota (Polls open at 7 AM local time and close 7 PM local time for Central & Mountain, 9 PM/10PM Eastern)

Illinois (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 8 PM)

Variable Opening Times

Colorado (Polls close 7 PM local time - All voters receive mail ballots, but can vote in-person instead)

Hawaii (Polls close 7 PM local time, Midnight Eastern – All voters receive mail ballots, but can vote in-person instead)

Kansas (Polls close 7 PM local time, but counties can close at 8 PM local time, so some close at 8 PM Eastern, others close at 9 PM Eastern; polls open at 7 AM local time, but some open as early as 6 AM)

Maine (Polls open between 6 AM and 10 AM (depending on town population) and close at 8 PM

Nebraska (Polls open at 8 AM and close at 8 PM local for Central Time Zone & open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM in Mountain Time Zone)

New Hampshire (Polls close at some polling places at 7 PM Eastern, others 8 PM Eastern, polls generally open between 6 AM and 11 AM.)

North Dakota (Opening times vary by county, polls close 7 PM local time for Central & Mountain, 9 PM/10PM Eastern) 

Oregon (Polls close 8 PM local time – All vote by mail)

Tennessee (Varies by county, check your local polling place. Polls generally open between 7 and 9 AM and close at 7 or 8 PM local time)

Vermont (Polls close 7 PM and open between 5 and 10 AM)  

Washington (Polls close 8 PM local time - All voters receive mail ballots, but can vote in-person instead) 

8:00 AM Eastern Opening

Mississippi (Polls open at 8 AM and close at 8 PM)

Oklahoma (Polls open at 8 AM and close at 8 PM

Iowa (Polls open at 8 AM and close at 9 PM)

Wisconsin (Polls open at 8 AM and close at 9 PM)

8:30 AM Eastern Opening

Arkansas (Polls open at 8:30 AM and close at 8:30 PM)

9:00 AM Eastern Opening

Arizona (Polls open at 9 AM and close at 10 PM)

New Mexico (Polls open at 9 AM and close at 9 PM)

Texas (Polls open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM local, most of state in Central Time Zone, part in Mountain Time Zone, 9 PM/10PM Eastern)

Wyoming (Polls open at 9 AM and close at 9 PM

Montana (Polls close 10 PM local time, most open at 9 AM)

Utah (Polls open at 9 AM and close at 10 PM)

10:00 AM Eastern Opening

Idaho (Polls are open 8 AM to 8 PM local time. Idaho is in 2 time zones, with Mountain and Pacific, so closing time Mountain is 10 PM ET and 11 PM ET for those in Pacific)

Nevada (Polls open at 10 AM and close at 10 PM)

California (Polls open at 10 AM and close at 11 PM )

11:00 AM Eastern Opening

Alaska (Polls open at 11 AM and close at 1 AM on Nov. 6)

When will we know the presidential election results?

Results from the presidential election won't start to filter in until the polls close in each respective state. The 50 states and the District of Columbia run their own elections, and each does things a little differently.

Given the volume of ballots anticipated and the process it takes to tabulate votes, it is very much possible that the final results from the presidential contest won't be known on election night. 

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