Election Day is now officially here. Over 99 million people have voted already, according to data compiled by the U.S. Elections Project. In actuality, “Election Day” really is vote-tabulation day, since so many people have chosen to vote early this year. In today’s post, we are going to take a look at each state, from Alabama all the way to Wyoming, and discussing the key races briefly.
Before we start, if you’re unfamiliar with the U.S. electoral process, check out our guide. Also, check out our page on poll closing times for the full list of when polls close in each state. All Newshacker Blog posts related to the 2020 election are linked to our 2020 election coverage page, so check that out as well.
All times used in this post are given in Eastern Standard Time (UTC-6) (not daylight saving time). Unless otherwise stated, “Senate” alone refers to the U.S. Senate, and “House” alone refers to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Alabama
Polls close at 8 p.m. in the Yellowhammer State, a staunchly Republican state. It is neither competitive on the presidential nor House level. However, it has a competitive Senate race—check out our analysis. Results are expected on election night as few people are voting by mail.
Alaska
Though not quite as “swingy” as say, Pennsylvania, virtually every federal race in the Last Frontier State is considered competitive—presidential, Senate, and House. Check out the Senate analysis here. On the presidential level, polls indicate that Trump is only leading by a 4.8 percent margin, indicating a narrowing race, and the incumbent congressman for Alaska’s at-large House district is in a competitive race. However, because polls close at 1 a.m. here, we will likely have known the presidential result, and mail-in votes will only be finished counting approximately Nov. 18—the state only starts counting mail ballots on Nov. 10. Expect a possible blue shift later on as mail ballots are counted.
Arizona
Though considered competitive, most of the Grand Canyon State’s federal races this year have the Democrats as the favorite—Biden and Mark Kelly, the Democratic Senate candidate, are expected to win. Check out the analysis for these races here. The 1st and 6th congressional districts (western Arizona and Scottsdale, respectively), have competitive races, with the Republican being ever so slightly favored in the latter race. Polls close at 9 p.m., and as mail ballots are counted in advance, the result of mail ballots will be released around 1o p.m. Though most of the in-person votes on Election Day are expected to be counted fully on election night, some late absentee ballots may only be counted later, which could matter if the race is close. As in-person ballots are counted, expect a red shift.
Arkansas
The Natural State is a solidly Republican state that only has one race to watch: the 2nd congressional district race (Little Rock), where a Republican is slightly favored to win. Results are expected by the end of the night, as polls close by 8:30 p.m.
California
A solidly Democratic state, the Golden State’s location on the West Coast resulting in its poll closing time at 11 p.m. as well as a large number of mail votes, expect a slightly longer vote tabulation time here. Though mail ballots that are postmarked by Election Day will be counted as long as they are received as late as Nov. 20, most mail ballots should already be tabulated on election night. Key House races include the 1st, 4th, 10th, 21st, 25th, 39th, 42nd, 45th, 48th, and 50th districts.
Colorado
Once a swing state, the Centennial State has moved left significantly in recent years (analysis). The presidential race is virtually locked for Biden, but because the Senate race has a Republican incumbent, the Senate race is one to watch (though the Democrat is largely expected to win). The 3rd House district is also competitive. Polls close at 9 p.m., but because the state has a full vote-by-mail system, few in-person votes are expected. Since the state has a long experience in tabulating mail ballots, results are expected pretty soon.
Connecticut
With no competitive races in the Constitution State, this solidly Democratic state is one that will be largely overlooked on election night. Polls close at 9 p.m. and results are expected anywhere on election night to a few days later.
Delaware
Like Connecticut, the First State has no competitive races, and as polls close at 8 p.m., results are expected on election night, despite a large number of mail ballots.
District of Columbia
D.C. currently has no House or Senate seats, so the presidential race is the only major federal election here. Polls close at 8 p.m. and though results are only expected in a few days (the district is mailing ballots to all voters this year), it is staunchly Democratic, so it isn’t particularly important.
Florida
The Sunshine State is arguably the most important state to watch for on election night (more on that on the post on Election Day), as it is highly competitive on the presidential level. The 15th, 16th, 18th, 26th, and 27th House districts are also competitive. Results should be released within a few hours of poll closing, at 8 p.m., as the state counts ballots in advance. Expect a red shift as in-person votes are reported later. Read the state analysis here.
Georgia
Again, the Peach State is extremely competitive on all levels, and it is high-stakes this year: not only is the presidential race highly competitive, but both of the state’s Senate seats are also up for election this year and are considered tossups. Results should be known on election night, unless the race is extremely close, in which case it could take one or two days. Polls close at 7 p.m. Read the full analysis here.
Hawaii
The Aloha State leans staunchly Democratic, and so there are no major races to watch. Even though polls only close at 12 a.m., results are expected immediately, since the state votes wholly by mail and tabulates results early.
Idaho
The Gem State is, again, a noncompetitive state and is safe Republican. Results are expected within a few hours to the next morning after the last polls close at 11 p.m.
Illinois
With Chicago, a liberal stronghold, dominating the Prairie State’s politics, neither the presidential nor Senate races are competitive here. Watch the 6th, 13th, and 14th House districts, though, as suburban Chicago and rural Illinois is much less solid. Polls close at 8 p.m. and though election night results should give a good idea of who wins, mail ballots can be received up to Nov. 17, so these may take longer to be tabulated.
Indiana
The Hoosier State’s politics is surprisingly unaffected by the Chicago suburbs and Indianapolis, which makes the state very Republican and thus uncompetitive. The only competitive race is the 5th district, so even though vote tabulation is expected to take a few days after polls close at 7 p.m., in general, the state won’t have much effect on the final outcome of the election.
Iowa
The Hawkeye State has competitive presidential, Senate, and House (all districts except 4th) races, so this will be a key state to watch. Most votes are expected to be tabulated quickly after polls close at 10 p.m., but late-arriving mail ballots that arrive up to Nov. 9 could sway the election if the race(s) are particularly close. Full analysis here.
Kansas
The Sunflower State has, surprisingly, a competitive Senate race (analysis) and House race in the 2nd district. Because most votes should be counted rather quickly after polls close at 9 p.m., unless races are particularly close, late-arriving mail ballots shouldn’t sway the results too much.
Kentucky
The only competitive race in the staunchly Republican Bluegrass State is the 6th House district (the Senate race is practically a lock for the GOP), and with 90 percent of results expected on election night, we should get a full picture of the state pretty quickly.
Louisiana
Another solidly red state, the Pelican State has no major competitive races. With the state not implementing mail voting on a large basis, results should be known pretty quickly after polls close at 9 p.m.
Maine
The Pine Tree State is one of two states (Nebraska) that divvy up its electoral votes by congressional district, so watch the race in the second district closely (analysis). Also, the Senate race is super competitive (analysis). Though results are expected within a few hours of poll closing at 8 p.m., if the race is close, ranked-choice voting in the state could make results take longer to be tabulated.
Maryland
A staunchly Democratic state, the Old Line State has no major competitive races. Though polls close at 8 p.m., results are only expected in about a week or so, as absentee votes get tabulated in the state.
Massachusetts
Another solidly Democratic state, the Bay State has, again, no competitive races. Most votes should be counted within a few hours of 8 p.m. poll closing, but some mail in votes received from Election Day to the deadline on Nov. 6 will only be counted beginning on Nov. 6.
Michigan
The Great Lakes State is a competitive state in the Rust Belt that is expected to lean Democratic, but the presidential, Senate, and House races in the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 11th congressional districts are considered at least somewhat competitive, so keep an eye on that. Results from the Rust Belt states are generally expected to take at least till Nov. 6 to be counted, so don’t get too hopeful when polls close at 9 p.m. A blue shift is likely as mail ballots are counted later. Read the full analysis.
Minnesota
With the North Star State having voted Democratic for many years now, arguably, the presidential and Senate races are almost locks for the Democrats. Still, the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th House districts are competitive, so watch for those. The state was noted that unless races are particularly close, most results should be known within a few hours of poll closing at 9 p.m.
Mississippi
Though the Magnolia State is solidly Republican, the Democrats have made a number of inroads in the state, which makes the Senate race one to watch (though it is highly likely to go to the GOP). Since this state requires an excuse to vote absentee, in general, most results should be known within a few hours of poll closing at 8 p.m.
Missouri
Though the Show-Me State was once considered a swing state, it seems reliably Republican enough now that the presidential and gubernatorial race isn’t competitive anymore. The only other competitive race is the 2nd House district. Results are expected rather quickly after 8 p.m. when polls close.
Montana
Though likely to vote Republican on the presidential level, the Treasure State/Big Sky Country is seeing very a very competitive Senate, gubernatorial, and at-large House race, with the Senate race being particularly important. Results should be known soon after polls close at 10 p.m. as the state usually sees a large vote-by-mail population. Read the full analysis.
Nebraska
Though not competitive statewide, like Maine, the Cornhusker State divvies up electoral votes by congressional district, and so that makes the presidential (and House) race in the second district one to watch (analysis). Absentee ballots are counted early, so results should be known not long after 9 p.m. when polls close. There will likely be a red shift as in-person votes are counted later.
Nevada
Though heavily dominated in population by the liberal stronghold Las Vegas (Clark County), where 71 percent of the Silver State’s population lives, the presidential race is still at least somewhat competitive, so it will be one to keep an eye on (analysis). The 3rd and 4th House districts are competitive, too. The race is expected to be called only after a few days even though polls close at 10 p.m. since the state is wholly voting by mail for the first time, and so it will take longer for votes to be counted (the deadline for receiving these ballots is Nov. 10).
New Hampshire
The Granite State is traditionally a swing state, but, like so many other states, it has shifted to the left this year, making its presidential race less competitive (analysis) and the 1st House district likely Democrat. The gubernatorial race is expected to be safe Republican, so that isn’t one to watch either. Results are expected not long after polls close at 8 p.m.
New Jersey
The Garden State only has competitive races in the 2nd, 3rd, and 7th House districts, but results are expected to take weeks. Though some counties will release some mail ballot results just after polls close at 8 p.m., in-person votes are only counted starting Nov. 10, which are all provisionsl. The deadline for result certification is Nov. 20, over two weeks after Election Day. Expect a red shift as mail ballots will be counted first.
New Mexico
The presidential and Senate races in the Land of Enchantment are now considered safe Democratic (analysis), so the only race to watch here is the 2nd district House race, which is very competitive. Polls close at 9 p.m. and most results should be known on election night, but some results may take till Wednesday morning.
New York
It is likely that results from the Empire State will take up till late November or even early December, as absentee votes are only counted starting Nov. 6, and all ballots are provisional. That could mean that similar to the June primary, we will not know many results after polls close at 9 p.m.—just in-person votes will be reported then, so expect a blue shift. This means that we will be waiting for a long time for the competitive 1st, 2nd, 11th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th districts to report results.
North Carolina
Expect initial results to come quickly in the Tar Heel State, but be waiting for a bath of results. Though almost 80 percent of the total vote result could be reported immediately after polls close at 7:30 p.m., Election Day votes and absentee ballots that arrive up till Nov. 12 will take longer to be reported. Expect a red shift as mail ballot results are reported first. If races are close, as are expected in the presidential, Senate, gubernatorial, and 1st, 8th, 9th, and 11th House districts, we may be waiting a while for the results. Read the full analysis.
North Dakota
A staunchly Republican state with no competitive races, the Peace Garden State is expecting most results to be reported soon after polls close at 9 p.m., though some absentee ballots that arrive until Nov. 9 will still be counted.
Ohio
The Buckeye State has competitive presidential and House races in the 1st, 10th, and 12th districts, and though most results will be announced fairly quickly after polls close at 7:30 p.m., some late-arriving mail ballots could still affect the results if races are particularly close (the deadline is Nov. 13, but counties will only report these results between Nov. 14-18). Expect a red shift as mail ballots are reported first, but another blue shift as late-arriving mail ballots are counted. Read the full analysis.
Oklahoma
Aside from the 5th House district, the Sooner State has no competitive races. Results are expected to be released shortly after 8 p.m. as the state counts mail botes ahead of time. Expect some shifts in data depending when mail and Election Day ballot results are tabulated.
Oregon
The only competitive state in the Beaver State is in the 4th House district, and since the state uses a wholly vote-by-mail system, timely results are expected soon after polls close at 11 p.m.
Pennsylvania
The most important tipping-point state in the Electoral College (analysis), results are expected to take a while. Due to strict rules on when mail ballots can be processed, large counties especially will need till at least Friday to calculate votes. This will mean a huge blue shift as initial results are in-person ballots from Election Day. Watch this state, and its 1st, 8th, 10th, and 17th House districts, closely for election-related lawsuits and results.
Rhode Island
A small state with no competitive races, the Ocean State is expecting most results within about three hours of poll closure at 8 p.m. The remaining mail vote results are expected to drop within a couple of days. Expect a blue shift in this state.
South Carolina
The Palmetto State has a competitive Senate (analysis) and House race in the 1st district. Luckily, due to the early counting of mail ballots, results should be known soon after 7 p.m. poll closing. Expect a red shift as mail ballot results are expected to be reported first.
South Dakota
A solidly Republican and uncompetitive state, most results in the Mount Rushmore State are expected soon after the last polls close at 9 p.m., but the state’s largest county may take up to the following day to finish counting.
Tennessee
Another uncompetitive state, the Volunteer State’s results are expected within four hours of 8 p.m. poll closure. As absentee ballot results are released first, expect a red shift.
Texas
The Lone Star State is super competitive this year round, with key races to watch including the presidential, Senate, and 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 31st, and 32nd House districts. The bulk of the results are expected not long after the last polls close at 9 p.m., and a red shift is expected as early votes are reported first, though a smaller blue shift could occur on Wednesday as late-arriving mail ballots are counted. Read the full analysis.
Utah
Because the Beehive State votes wholly by mail and accepts all ballots received up to two weeks after Election Day, expect results in the competitive 4th House district to take till up to Nov. 17 to be reported. In 2018, this House race took two weeks to be finalized.
Vermont
With no competitive races and a long window of time to process mail ballots in the Green Mountain State, results are expected not long after polls close at 7 p.m.
Virginia
Considered noncompetitive on the presidential and Senate levels (analysis), the Old Dominion State still has competitive House races in the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th House districts. Though most results are expected not long after 7 p.m., late-arriving mail ballots are likely to take a few days to be counted. Expect a blue shift.
Washington
The Evergreen State is expecting votes to take as long as Nov. 23 to fully report votes, even though the state has voted wholly by mail for a number of years. Thankfully, with the only competitive race being a 3rd district House race, there isn’t much to be worried about here. A small number of in-person votes could be reported soon after 11 p.m. when polls close.
West Virginia
The Mountain State is solidly Republican and no competitive races, so even though late-arriving ballots that arrive up to Nov. 9 will still be counted, there likely isn’t much to be anxious about here. Most results should still be tabulated within a few hours of poll closing at 7:30 p.m.
Wisconsin
The last competitive state on this list, watch the presidential (analysis) race in the Badger State. Even though mail ballots can only be counted beginning on Election Day, results are expected by Wednesday morning. Some results will still be reported not long after poll closure at 9 p.m., though.
Wyoming
The Equality State is the most Republican state and has no competitive races and is expected to finish calculating votes shortly after 9 p.m., so we will know results here rather quickly.
Make sure to check out our other Election Day post, which contains the final details as to what to watch for on election night to predict the outcome of the presidency and Senate majority.
Check out our 2020 election coverage page for more on the election.