2024 U.S. Presidential Election: When Will We Know the Final Result

By: Asa Montreaux

As Americans head to the polls on November 5, 2024, the nation braces for what could be a prolonged wait for the presidential election results. The razor-thin race between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump could mean that the final outcome remains unknown for days—or even longer—after Election Day.

This year’s election depends on key battleground states that will largely determine the winner. With the first polls closing at 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT) on Tuesday and the last at 01:00 EST (06:00 GMT) early Wednesday, results will start to emerge as votes are counted. However, with such a close contest, seven swing states could hold the deciding votes. These states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—are where the campaigns have focused most intensely in recent weeks. The importance of Northern and central states does generally signal the election result by the next morning.

When Do Polls Close and Results Begin?

Election Night will unfold as follows:

- 19:00 EST (00:00 GMT): Polls close in Georgia, a state expected to count about 75% of its votes by 20:00 EST, and in several other states where media networks may start projecting winners in less competitive races.

- 19:30 EST (00:30 GMT): Polls close in North Carolina. Early trends from Georgia and North Carolina could hint at which candidate might gain an edge, although it will still be too early to identify definitive trends.

- 20:00 EST (01:00 GMT): Polls close in Pennsylvania, along with several other states. Michigan, which allows early vote counting, will close all remaining polls at this time. However, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin cannot start counting votes until Election Day, meaning delays are likely.

- 21:00 EST (02:00 GMT): Voting ends in Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where results may come more quickly, though final counts are expected to extend into the following day.

- 22:00 EST (03:00 GMT): Nevada’s polls close, wrapping up voting in the last swing state. Counting begins in earnest, but the final result may not be known until later in the week.

The Challenges of Counting and Certifying Votes

The ballot-counting process is complex and involves several stages, which could impact the timeline for final results. Election officials in each state rigorously verify ballots and address any inconsistencies, often under the watch of partisan observers. In Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where laws require vote counting to start only once in-person voting begins, delays are particularly likely. Nonetheless, unofficial results are generally conclusive.

In recent years, election results have varied widely in timing. While Trump’s 2016 win was declared around 03:00 EST the day after the election, the 2020 election took until the following Saturday, November 7, for Joe Biden to be declared the winner. With such a close race in 2024, both campaigns are bracing for recounts and legal battles, which have already started, with over 100 pre-election lawsuits on voter eligibility and ballot processing.

Will We See a Repeat of 2020—or Even 2000?

While advances in vote counting in states like Michigan have made the process quicker, the country may still see delays if results are close in battleground states or if legal disputes arise. Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have refused to state definitively that they would accept the results in the event of a loss, raising the possibility of additional challenges.

Regardless of the timeline, the stakes are high. A Harris victory would make her the first woman and first person of Black and South Asian descent to serve as president. If Trump wins, he would become the first president in history to hold non-consecutive terms after facing a felony conviction.