Election Week 2026: Results and Certification

Election night is one point in a longer official process. Polls close at different local times, mail-ballot rules differ by state, and certification follows canvassing. This calendar separates those stages so readers can see why a result may be clear in one state while counting continues in another.

Tuesday, November 3

The first useful marker is each state's statutory poll-closing time. Georgia polls close at 7 p.m. ET. North Carolina closes at 7:30 p.m. ET, and Ohio also closes at 7:30 p.m. ET. Florida generally closes at 7 p.m. local time, which means most of the state closes at 7 p.m. ET while part of the Panhandle closes at 7 p.m. CT.

Farther west, Texas polls close at 7 p.m. local time. Most counties use Central Time, while El Paso and Hudspeth counties use Mountain Time. Colorado closes at 7 p.m. MT. Nevada closes at 7 p.m. PT, and California closes at 8 p.m. PT.

These are voting deadlines, not promises that a result will be complete at that minute. Voters already in line may still cast a ballot under state rules, and officials must process all eligible ballots.

Mail ballots and the first count

Pennsylvania counties may begin pre-canvassing mail ballots at 7 a.m. on Election Day. California permits election officials to process vote-by-mail ballots before Election Day under state law, but results cannot be released before polls close. Florida allows county canvassing boards to begin canvassing vote-by-mail ballots before Election Day under the timetable in state law.

Those differences affect when totals become available. A state that performs more verification and preparation before November 3 may report a larger early batch after polls close. A state that begins later can take longer even when the number of ballots is similar.

Wednesday, November 4, to Friday, November 6

Count updates continue as election offices receive eligible ballots, review provisional ballots and complete signature or identification procedures. The exact deadline for receipt of a mail ballot depends on state law. Readers should use each state election office's results page rather than treat an unofficial media total as the final certified count.

Certification examples

Certification is a later legal step. California's Secretary of State publishes a statewide election calendar with county and state certification dates. Texas uses a state canvass timetable set through the Secretary of State and Election Code. Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada and Colorado each publish canvass or certification schedules through their election offices.

Each state sets its own dates, so check that state's election office for its 2026 canvass and certification deadlines.

How political markets settle

A market can use a named media call, an official certification or another source specified in its rules. The written rules control. Our settlement guide (opens in a new tab) explains why the timing can differ across contracts.

Polymarket US lists Senate and House control markets, and Kalshi lists individual race markets. Read each market's rules on its own page.

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Sources

Georgia Secretary of State, North Carolina State Board of Elections, Ohio Secretary of State, Florida Division of Elections, Texas Secretary of State, Colorado Secretary of State, Nevada Secretary of State, California Secretary of State, Pennsylvania Department of State (election-day and mail-ballot pages, checked Oct 27, 2026).

Frequently asked questions

Do results become final when polls close?

No. Poll closing starts the public reporting phase. Election officials still count eligible ballots, canvass returns and certify the result.

Why can Florida have two closing moments?

Florida spans Eastern and Central Time. Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, so part of the Panhandle closes one hour later in absolute time than most of the state.

When are mail ballots counted?

The answer depends on state law. Some states permit processing before Election Day, while others begin pre-canvassing or counting on Election Day.

Does a market always wait for certification?

No. It depends on the named source and conditions in that market's rules. Readers should check the exact contract rather than assume one method applies everywhere.