On November 3, polling stations across the United States will have varied closing times. The first to shut down will be in certain regions of Indiana and Kentucky at 6 pm ET, followed by many states, including Georgia and Virginia, closing at 7 pm ET. Although election results might start rolling in shortly after, final counts could be delayed, particularly in close races where state vote-counting procedures vary.
US midterm elections 2026: Polling stations across Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, California and other states will close at different times on Tuesday, November 3, as millions of Americans vote to decide control of Congress. The first polling stations will close at 6 pm ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, while the final polling stations in Alaska will close at 1 am ET on Wednesday.
There is no single closing time for voting across the United States. Polling hours vary by state and, in some cases, by county and time zone. Election results are expected to start coming in after polling stations close, although the counting process could continue for several days in closely contested races.
What time do polls close across the US?
According to CBS News, polling stations will close in different phases, starting with parts of Indiana and Kentucky at 6 pm ET. Here is the state-by-state schedule (all times Eastern):
Poll closing time (ET)States6 pmParts of Indiana and Kentucky7 pmGeorgia, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky and most of Florida7:30 pmNorth Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia8 pmAlabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida (remaining areas), Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island8:30 pmArkansas9 pmArizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming10 pmIowa, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Utah11 pmCalifornia, Idaho, Oregon, WashingtonMidnightHawaii1 am (Wednesday)Alaska
The timings refer to the closing of the last polling stations in the listed states. Some states have different closing times in different time zones. For example, parts of Florida, Texas, Indiana and Kentucky will close their polling stations earlier than other areas.
Election official Heather Russell, right, assists a voter at the Nolensville Recreation Center polling place Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, in Nolensville, Tenn.
What time will US polls close in India?
For Indian viewers, the first polling stations will close at approximately 4:30 am IST on Wednesday, November 4, in parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
The major closing windows will follow:
5:30 am IST: Georgia, Virginia and other states in the 7 pm ET group.
6 am IST: North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.
6:30 am IST: Pennsylvania and several other states.
7:30 am IST: New York, Michigan and Texas.
8:30 am IST: Iowa, Nevada and other states.
9:30 am IST: California and Washington.
10:30 am IST: Hawaii.
11:30 am IST: Final polling stations in Alaska.
When will US midterm election results start coming in?
Election results will begin coming in after polling stations close and officials start reporting their counts. Some winners could be projected on election night or early Wednesday morning.
However, the closing of polls does not mean that vote counting is complete. Close House and Senate contests, mail-in ballots, recounts and state-specific counting procedures could delay final results.
The overall balance of power in Congress may therefore take several days to become clear.
