In the U.S., today’s elections will decide who will hold the presidency for the next four years. The race between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump has been neck-and-neck for weeks, drawing global attention.
Each state has its own polling hours. For instance, polling stations open at midnight in parts of New Hampshire, while in certain areas of Vermont, voting starts at 5 a.m. Generally, polls open between 6 and 8 a.m., with the first closures beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on the evening of November 5.
Unofficial election results are expected late at night or early the next day. If the race is tight, final results could take longer, as states may need weeks to complete and certify vote counts before declaring official results.
Of the approximately 170 million registered voters in the U.S., over 81 million have already cast their ballots through early voting options available in many states. Some states allowed voting to start over a month ago.
The Electoral College System and the Importance of 270 Votes
In the U.S., voters choose electors for the Electoral College, who then vote for the president and vice president. Each state has a certain number of electoral votes based on population, and a candidate needs at least 270 out of 538 total votes to win the election.
Why Tuesday? The Origins of Election Day
The tradition of holding elections on a Tuesday dates back to the 19th century. At that time, many voters were farmers who would dedicate Sundays to church, leaving Monday for travel. Thus, Congress chose the first Tuesday in November as Election Day, ensuring that farmers could participate without disrupting their schedule. Though farmers now make up only about 2% of the population, the tradition remains. Election Day is not a national holiday, so many Americans vote early or after work. Some states and companies offer employees time off to vote.