Politics

Election Night in America: A Look Ahead to Poll Closures and Projections

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As Americans prepare for Election Night, the outcome will unfold across the nation, following the sun and the schedule of poll closing times from East to West. CNN will project winners as data becomes available, but voters should be prepared for varying timelines on when results will be announced.

In some states where races are deemed noncompetitive, early projections may come shortly after polls close. However, in more contentious battlegrounds, results could take several hours to materialize. Notably, former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, may see his electoral vote count increase swiftly after the closure of polls in populous red states such as Florida and Ohio.

Conversely, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, is expected to benefit from larger voting pools in states with later poll closures, including California and New York.

A breakdown of key poll closing times reveals crucial battleground states. Polls in the first six states, including Georgia—a significant state with 16 electoral votes—close at 7 p.m. ET. However, due to the variable nature of vote counting, it remains unclear when sufficient data will be available to project a winner in these regions.

Importantly, polls in parts of Indiana and Kentucky will close even earlier, at 6 p.m. ET. As a result, projections from these areas may be made sooner, although they may not fully reflect the overall outcome in solidly red or blue states. In Florida, most polls will close at 7 p.m., but the panhandle will remain open until 8 p.m., meaning no statewide projections can be made until all polling places have closed.

According to Georgia’s Secretary of State, up to 70% of votes could be counted by 8 p.m. ET, thanks in part to early voting and pre-processing of mail-in ballots, which may expedite the reporting process.

In total, 28 electoral votes lean towards Trump from states including Indiana, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Harris is expected to secure 16 electoral votes from Virginia and Vermont, with an additional 16 electoral votes up for grabs in Georgia—a true toss-up state that could determine the election’s outcome.

As the night progresses, attention will focus on how quickly data flows in and whether early projections can provide insight into the race’s trajectory. Voters and candidates alike will be watching closely as America’s electoral map begins to take shape.

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