US midterm elections 2026: When to expect the final results?

US midterm elections are just days away but voters may have to wait longer than election night to find out who won some of the biggest races. More than 100 million ballots are expected to be cast and counting them will take time as well. While some states usually release results quickly, others may need several days or even weeks to complete the count. Last election data offers a useful idea of what to expect in terms of results declaration. Close races and counting delays could still keep the final outcome uncertain. The information is taken from Vote Beat, PolitiFact and The Hill.

When do polls close across the United States

The first polling locations will close at 6 p.m. ET, while the last will shut at 1 a.m. Some states operate across multiple time zones. So polling hours can differ within the same state.



Here is a breakdown of the main closing times:

- 6 p.m. ET: Polls close in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. The remaining locations in both states close at 7 p.m.

- 7 p.m.: Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia finish voting. Most polling places in Florida and New Hampshire also close, with the remaining locations closing at 8 p.m.

- 7:30 p.m.: Polls close in West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina.

- 8 p.m.: Polls close in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. Some locations in Texas, Michigan, Kansas, North Dakota and South Dakota close at 9 p.m.

- 8:30 p.m.: Arkansas closes its polls.

- 9 p.m.: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Wisconsin and Wyoming finish voting.

- 10 p.m.: Montana and Utah close. Parts of Idaho and Oregon also close at this time.

- 11 p.m.: Polls close in California and Washington, along with the remaining locations in parts of Idaho and Oregon.

- Midnight to 1 a.m.: Hawaii and most of Alaska close at midnight. Some Alaska polling places remain open until 1 a.m.

Which states could take longer to report results

The speed of vote counting depends on state election laws, available resources and voting methods. According to Associated Press data from 2024, Florida reported results relatively quickly, while California still had many ballots left to count well into Wednesday.

• Florida
• North Carolina
• Georgia
• Texas
• These states may end up reporting results sooner because many voters cast ballots in person, either early or on the day of election. Longer mail ballot arrival windows can make counting slower elsewhere.

Mail voting and close races could delay the outcome

Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania may take longer to report their results. California can take weeks to count all its ballots. Its results have previously played an important role in determining control of the House.

Even when projections are announced, a race may remain too close to call. Recounts, overseas ballots and provisional ballots can all affect the final numbers.

However, an election result is not officially final until it is certified, which generally happens weeks after Election Day. Voters may therefore have to wait beyond November 3 to know the outcome of some races.