Here’s how election night will unfold hour by hour

Election night in the United States unfolds in a rhythmic pattern, mirroring the sun’s journey across the country as polls close from East to West. As the clock ticks, both major party candidates—former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee—will watch their respective electoral vote counts fluctuate based on early results and projections.

The landscape is particularly favorable for Trump early on, as populous red states like Florida and Ohio close their polls first. In contrast, Harris’s key strongholds, including California and New York, have later closing times, which could delay her electoral gains.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of when polls close and the electoral votes at stake each hour:

7 p.m. ET

Polls close in six states, including the crucial battleground of Georgia, which holds 16 electoral votes. However, the exact timing for when a winner can be projected in these states remains uncertain. Notably, some parts of Indiana and Kentucky close their polls at 6 p.m. ET, while Florida’s panhandle will not close until 8 p.m., meaning statewide projections for Florida will be delayed until all polls are closed.

Georgia’s secretary of state has indicated that up to 70% of votes may be counted by 8 p.m. due to early voting and pre-processing of mail-in ballots.

• 28 electoral votes leaning toward Trump: Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina
• 16 electoral votes leaning toward Harris: Virginia, Vermont
• 16 toss-up votes: Georgia

7:30 p.m. ET

Polls close in North Carolina and two other red states. This hour is critical as it adds more electoral votes to the tally.

• 21 electoral votes leaning toward Trump: Ohio, West Virginia
• 16 toss-up votes: North Carolina

Total by 7:30 p.m. ET:

• 49 lean toward Trump
• 16 lean toward Harris
• 32 toss-up votes

8 p.m. ET

At this hour, polls close in 17 states, including the populous Pennsylvania, which Trump aims to reclaim after losing it in 2020. Michigan and Texas also close their polls, but some counties in Michigan won’t close until 9 p.m.

• 74 electoral votes leaning toward Trump: Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Maine’s 2nd Congressional District
• 78 electoral votes leaning toward Harris: Illinois, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.
• 19 toss-up votes: Pennsylvania

Total by 8 p.m. ET:

• 123 lean toward Trump
• 94 lean toward Harris
• 51 toss-up votes

8:30 p.m. ET

Polls close in Arkansas, which is expected to support Trump. With this closure, half of the states will have completed their voting.

Total by 8:30 p.m. ET:

• 129 lean toward Trump
• 94 lean toward Harris
• 51 toss-up votes

9 p.m. ET

This hour sees the closure of polls in 15 states, including battlegrounds like Arizona, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as populous states such as Texas and New York.

• 73 electoral votes leaning toward Trump: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Louisiana
• 54 electoral votes leaning toward Harris: New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District
• 36 toss-up votes: Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan

Total by 9 p.m. ET:

• 202 lean toward Trump
• 148 lean toward Harris
• 87 toss-up votes

10 p.m. ET

Polls close in three states, including Nevada, which is crucial for both candidates.

• 10 electoral votes lean toward Trump: Utah, Montana
• 6 toss-up votes: Nevada

Total by 10 p.m. ET:

• 212 lean toward Trump
• 148 lean toward Harris
• 93 toss-up votes

11 p.m. ET

This hour marks the closure of polls in four states, which likely favor Harris.

• 4 electoral votes lean toward Trump: Idaho
• 74 electoral votes lean toward Harris: California, Oregon, Washington

Total by 11 p.m. ET:

• 216 lean toward Trump
• 222 lean toward Harris
• 93 toss-up votes

12 a.m. ET and 1 a.m. ET

The final polls close in Hawaii at midnight ET and in Alaska at 1 a.m. ET.

• 3 electoral votes lean toward Trump in Alaska
• 4 electoral votes lean toward Harris in Hawaii

Total by 1 a.m. ET:

• 219 lean toward Trump
• 226 lean toward Harris
• 93 toss-up votes

As the night progresses, the outcome will become clearer, but each hour will bring a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as America waits to see who will emerge victorious.