Midterm election results: when to expect announcements across the US

Millions of Americans are heading to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, reports BritPanorama.

The first votes are expected to be reported on election night, with some winners potentially declared within hours. However, other results, primarily from closely contested races, may take days or even weeks to finalize.

The initial polls close at 6pm Eastern Time (ET) in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, and results should start coming in shortly afterwards. Most states will conclude voting between 7pm and 11pm ET, while the last polling stations in Alaska’s western Aleutian Islands close at 1am ET on November 4.

There is no set time for announcing winners; the Associated Press (AP) declares results when analysts determine that trailing candidates cannot acquire enough remaining votes to alter the outcome. As such, some races may be called immediately after polls close, while others will remain undecided for an extended period, possibly stretching past Election Day.

What time will the 2026 Midterms results be announced?

Results reporting will commence shortly after the initial polls close at 6pm ET. However, the timeline varies across states. The last polling stations in Alaska’s islands will close at 1am ET on November 4, making it one of the final states to conclude voting.

According to the AP, declarations of winners rely on analysts’ confidence in predicting outcomes based on available data. For some contests, close margins may delay calls significantly.

When do polls close and when are results expected in every state?

Analysis released by the Caucus on November 2 provides estimates for when results will emerge in competitive states, utilizing archived AP voting data that indicates when approximately 75% of votes were counted during previous elections. This historical context aids in forecasting reporting timelines for the 2026 midterms.

The following timetable highlights the polling closures in each state, along with estimates from the Caucus about when the majority of votes will likely be counted:

• Alabama – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 12am ET on November 4.
• Alaska – polls close at 1am ET on November 4. Substantial results expected by November 4 at the earliest.
• Arizona – polls close at 9pm ET. Substantial results expected November 5 or later, possibly extending beyond November 6.
• Arkansas – polls close at 8:30pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• California – polls close at 11pm ET. Results could extend into November 5 or later.
• Colorado – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 2am ET on November 4.
• Connecticut – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Delaware – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Florida – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 8pm ET.
• Georgia – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 10pm ET.
• Hawaii – polls close at 12am ET on November 4. No estimated results available.
• Idaho – polls close at 11pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Illinois – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Indiana – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 10pm ET.
• Iowa – polls close at 9pm ET. Substantial results expected November 4.
• Kansas – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• Kentucky – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 9pm ET.
• Louisiana – polls close at 9pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Maine – polls close at 8pm ET. Results could extend into November 5 or later.
• Maryland – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Massachusetts – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Michigan – polls close at 9pm ET. Substantial results expected November 4.
• Minnesota – polls close at 9pm ET. Substantial results expected November 4.
• Mississippi – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Missouri – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 12am ET on November 4.
• Montana – polls close at 10pm ET. Substantial results could take until November 5 or later.
• Nebraska – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 1am ET on November 4.
• Nevada – polls close at 10pm ET. Substantial results expected November 4.
• New Hampshire – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 1am ET on November 4.
• New Jersey – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• New Mexico – polls close at 9pm ET. No estimated results available.
• New York – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• North Carolina – polls close at 7:30pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• North Dakota – polls close at 9pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Ohio – polls close at 7:30pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• Oklahoma – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Oregon – polls close at 11pm ET. Substantial results expected November 4.
• Pennsylvania – polls close at 8pm ET. Estimated results around 12am ET on November 4.
• Rhode Island – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• South Carolina – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 10pm ET.
• South Dakota – polls close at 9pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Tennessee – polls close at 8pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Texas – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• Utah – polls close at 10pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Vermont – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 10pm ET.
• Virginia – polls close at 7pm ET. Estimated results around 11pm ET.
• Washington – polls close at 11pm ET. Substantial results could take until November 5 or later.
• West Virginia – polls close at 7:30pm ET. No estimated results available.
• Wisconsin – polls close at 9pm ET. Estimated results around 1am ET on November 4.
• Wyoming – polls close at 9pm ET. No estimated results available.

Why could some Midterms results take days to be announced?

Different regulations surrounding ballot processing and counting contribute to varying speeds in reporting results across states. Mail-in ballots often cause delays, as election officials need to verify signatures and process envelopes before counting the votes.

A substantial vote count does not automatically