Election Day 2026 Deadlines: Exactly When Do the Polls Close in Your State?

As Americans head to the 2026 midterm polls today, knowing exactly when voting ends in your state is critical. Poll closing times determine when results start reporting and whether you can still get in line to cast a ballot. Below is a quick guide to help you plan. National snapshot • First polls shut at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, creating the night’s first wave of returns. • The busiest window is 7–8 p.m. ET, when more than half the country—including Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Texas—stops voting. • The final precincts to close are in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands at 1 a.m. ET (7 p.m. local). State-by-state poll closing times (all local times) 6 p.m. – Indiana (most counties), Kentucky (Eastern time counties) 7 p.m. – Florida (Eastern zone), Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire (cannot close before 7), plus Indiana & Kentucky Central zone counties 7:30 p.m. – North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia 8 p.m. – Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee (Eastern), Texas (most counties), District of Columbia 9 p.m. – Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas (Mountain zone counties), Wisconsin, Wyoming 10 p.m. – Iowa, Montana, Nevada, Utah 11 p.m. – California, Idaho Pacific zone counties, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii (mail ballots due 7 p.m. local but processed after 8) Midnight ET – Alaska mainland (8 p.m. AKST) 1 a.m. ET – Alaska Aleutians (8 p.m. HST) Key tips for voters • You only have to be in line before the posted closing hour; stay in line until you vote. • If you received a mail ballot but haven’t returned it, check your state’s rules—many require it to be in the clerk’s hands by closing time. • Bring an acceptable photo ID if your state requires one. Why times vary Election law allows each state—and sometimes each county—to set its own hours, often spanning multiple time zones. That’s why, for example, polls in western Kentucky close an hour later than those in Louisville, and why parts of Florida’s panhandle vote on Central time. Stay for results Major networks begin projecting races as soon as enough polls have closed to analyze vote patterns. Expect the earliest calls shortly after 7 p.m. ET for Indiana and Kentucky contests, with marquee Senate and governor races in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Texas coming after 8 p.m. ET. Still unsure? Use your state’s official lookup tool to confirm your polling place and exact closing hour. A comprehensive list is available from Ballotpedia’s 2026 poll opening and closing times page. For a quick national overview, see today’s live guide from The Guardian. Plan ahead, get in line on time, and make your vote count.