The much-anticipated U.S. presidential election is set for Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Polling stations across the nation will open between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM local time, translating to a range of 10:30 to 15:30 GMT due to the vast time zones spanning the country.
What time do the polls close?
Poll closing times vary widely across states and even within certain counties. However, the majority of polling locations are expected to shut down between 7:30 PM Eastern Time and 11:30 PM Eastern Time, which corresponds to 00:30 to 05:30 GMT. This staggered closing time reflects the nation’s vast geographic span.
When does vote counting start, and when can we expect the final results?
The vote tallying process kicks off almost immediately after the first polls close at around 7:30 PM Eastern Time (00:30 GMT). Early results are anticipated within a few hours from the initial closings, though some states will report faster than others. Western states, which close their polls later, will begin releasing their results afterward, which means that some eastern states could already be called for either Harris or Trump by then. In an exceptionally tight race, counting may extend well beyond election night, leaving us without a definitive winner for several days.
Political science expert Raymond J. La Raja from the University of Massachusetts Amherst describes this election as “extremely close.” According to polling data from FiveThirtyEight, Harris holds a slim national lead of approximately 1.1 points as of the most recent data. La Raja notes that certain demographic groups might not be fully captured in the polling data, potentially leading to unexpected swings for either candidate. If polling inaccuracies prove significant and the race isn’t as tight as forecasted, we may know the outcome sooner. However, he adds, “If it’s as close as anticipated, we should brace ourselves for a prolonged night that might stretch over multiple days.”
What role will swing states play?
In this election, seven battleground states are expected to play a decisive role in determining the winner. These critical states include Pennsylvania (20 Electoral votes), North Carolina (15), Georgia (14), Michigan (16), Arizona (12), Wisconsin (11), and Nevada (7), collectively representing 95 Electoral College votes. To secure the presidency, a candidate needs at least 270 out of the 538 total Electoral votes.
If you found this breakdown helpful, remember to follow and like for more insights! ♥️
#USElections2024Countdown #NovemberMarketAnalysis #donaldtrump #kamalaHarris
