People cast their ballots on the last day of early voting for the general election Howell, Mich. on Nov. 3, 2024. Credit – Jeff Kowalsky—AFP/Getty Images
Americans will head to the polls today to cast their ballots for the next President—along with candidates for a wide range of other federal, state, and local offices. Tens of millions of ballots have already been cast. The polling averages have been steady, showing the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump locked in a near tie.
The outcome hinges on seven battleground states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina. Both candidates have crossed these states in the final days of their campaigns, hoping to sway undecided voters and solidify their bases.
The stakes are particularly high as economic issues, immigration, and reproductive rights are top of mind for voters. And there’s the historical significance of the candidates themselves: Harris, 59, would be the first woman and the first person of South Asian descent to serve as U.S. President. Trump, who is 78, would become the oldest President in history if he wins and finishes another term at 82, and he would be the first President convicted of a felony.
The cost of living remains a central concern for voters, with many Americans still grappling with inflationary pressures stemming from the pandemic. Trump has positioned himself as a champion of economic revitalization, even as some economists warn that his proposed tariffs could have the opposite effect. For Harris, the issue of abortion has become a rallying cry, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She has framed reproductive rights as a matter of personal freedom, resonating particularly with women voters, many of whom are mobilized by ballot initiatives aimed at protecting these rights in key states.
Immigration also remains a critical issue for Trump, who has vowed to deport millions of undocumented migrants. Meanwhile, the integrity of democracy also looms large over this election; the Harris campaign has often reminded voters of Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and his threats to use government force against domestic political rivals.
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Like the 2020 election, there may not be a clear winner on election night. Many states cannot begin counting mail-in ballots until Election Day itself, which could prolong the wait for results and stir concerns about transparency and fairness. Trump has ramped up his rhetoric to sow doubt in the integrity of the outcome, particularly in the pivotal battleground of Pennsylvania, raising fears that he’s planting the seeds to say the election was stolen if he loses.
The Senate is also in play, with 34 seats up for election and the potential for a shift in control as Democrats try to defend their slim majority. And voters will determine which party controls the House of Representatives, an answer that will also come down to a handful of competitive races.
TIME will keep you updated throughout Election Day and beyond, providing insights into voter turnout and key races. We’ll also offer stories on the candidates and their platforms, helping you understand the broader implications of today’s election. Stay with us as we navigate this historic day together.
Record numbers of absentee voting this year
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Early voters have already broken records at their local polling stations in numerous states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and North Carolina. In Louisiana, more than a million early and mail-in votes were cast prior to Election Day, compared to the nearly 820,000 cast in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has been an improvement in early vote numbers for Republicans, who have taken to the practice under the encouragement of former President Donald Trump, after he spent years questioning the integrity of early and mail-in ballot voting.
Other states like Wisconsin have already surpassed their absentee voting totals from the last presidential election. In Minnesota, more than 1.1 million absentee ballots (and ballots for Minnesota precincts that exclusively vote by mail), were accepted as of Nov. 1. Some 1.9 million absentee ballots were cast in the state in 2020, compared to 677,000 in 2016.
Absentee voting allows citizens to vote even if they will be out of their municipality on Election Day, or if they have a disability or illness that bars them from being able to vote in-person. It differs from early voting, which allows people to vote in-person before Election Day. Eight states, including Arizona, Maine, and New Jersey, allow any voter to sign up to receive an absentee ballot, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, while others—like Louisiana— limit absentee voting to seniors or those with permanent disabilities.
—Solcyré Burga
Why we might not have a winner on Election Day
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Though polls will close at the end of the day on Nov. 5, there might not be a clear winner on Election Day. As voting by mail continues to be a popular option, the counting and verification of mail-in ballots could lead to delays—especially in a close race. Counting mail-in ballots involves additional layers of processing and verification; in some states, the work begins when ballots are received, while in other states, counting begins on Election Day.
Some swing states will see results sooner than others: Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina have pre-processing laws that ensure the mail ballots are processed and verified ahead of Election Day. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, however, prohibit processing and verifying mail-in ballots before polls open on Election Day. (In 2020, it took four days for election results to be called in Pennsylvania.) And Arizona and Nevada, which both vote largely by mail, are likely to be the last to see results come in.
—Simmone Shah
What time do the first polls close?
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Polling hours vary state by state—sometimes even county by county.
On TIME’s map below, you can see when exactly the polls in your state close today. Since poll closing times vary in North Dakota and New Hampshire, you can utilize search functions on each state’s respective website.
The first polls will close in Kentucky and Indiana at 6 p.m.—specifically those districts in the Eastern Time Zone.
How long it will take to get results from each polling station will vary greatly. For some states, like Arizona, most votes are likely to be cast via mail and early voting. Whereas in key swing states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, counters are not allowed to start processing absentee and mail-in ballots until Election Day.
—Rebecca Schneid
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