When will the results be expected?
The final polls are set to close at 01:00 EST (06:00 GMT) early Wednesday. In past presidential elections, a winner has sometimes been declared late on election night or early the next morning.
However, this year, the close competition in several states may slow down how quickly media outlets can project a winner. Tight margins could also lead to recounts. For instance, in Pennsylvania—a key swing state—a recount is mandatory if the difference between the top two candidates is within half a percentage point.
In 2020, the margin in Pennsylvania was just over 1.1 percentage points. Meanwhile, projected results are being released for states with more predictable voting patterns.
