Voters in every state except Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire had some form of early voting before polls opened Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2026 midterm general election, and more than 57 million ballots were already cast by Monday, according to CBS News tallies.
When polls open and close
There is no single national poll time. Vermont sites may open as early as 5 a.m. Eastern, while Hawaii does not open until noon Eastern. Most Eastern and Midwestern states use a 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. local start, with Pennsylvania running 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Georgia 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kentucky closes at 6 p.m. local time. CBS published hour-by-hour maps for both openings and closings; check your state election office for precinct-level exceptions.
If you are in line when polls close, stay put. Georgia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and most other states allow voters who were queued by the closing hour to cast a ballot. That rule matters in competitive districts where after-work lines stretch past sunset.
Identification rules vary
As of October, 36 states required some form of identification at in-person voting, including 24 that generally require photo ID with specific exceptions, according to Ballotpedia. Fourteen states plus Washington, D.C., did not require ID for most voters on Election Day, though first-time federal registrants by mail may still need to show proof of address under the Help America Vote Act.
Georgia requires photo ID such as a driver license, passport, or free voter ID card issued by county registrars. Pennsylvania asks first-time voters and those at new polling places to show photo or non-photo ID listed on the Department of State site. Provisional ballots remain available when eligibility is in question, but curing deadlines differ — Georgia gives three days after Election Day to resolve issues.
Practical checklist
Confirm your polling place on your state’s lookup tool; redistricting moved some precincts since 2024. Bring acceptable ID even if your state usually exempts you, because a poll worker error is easier to fix with documents in hand. Employers in states such as Kentucky must grant up to four consecutive hours off to vote if you request time in advance, though they may specify which hours.
Results will not arrive uniformly at poll close: Indiana and Kentucky report first in the Eastern time zone, while Alaska’s final polls close at 1 a.m. Eastern. Patience with unofficial totals prevents sharing misinformation while local canvasses continue.
Mail and drop-box deadlines
Eight states and Washington, D.C., mailed ballots to all active registered voters, but deadlines to return them vary. Georgia requires absentee ballots to arrive by 7 p.m. Election Day. Other states accept postmarks on Election Day if the envelope arrives within a grace period. If you still hold a mail ballot Tuesday morning, hand-deliver it to an official drop box or vote in person rather than mailing.
Work and childcare logistics
Employer voting leave rules differ: Kentucky grants up to four consecutive hours with advance notice, while other states rely on general anti-retaliation statutes without guaranteed paid time. Plan childcare around peak morning lines if your precinct historically queues before work hours.
Disabled voters should check whether curbside voting is offered; many counties deploy workers to parking areas when requested. Language assistance is available in designated precincts under the Voting Rights Act where coverage applies.
Watching results responsibly
Control of the House and Senate will not be callable at a single national hour because West Coast polls remain open while East Coast counties release partial totals. Media outlets and state officials warn against treating early leads as final when mail ballots are counted later in the week.
Secretary of state websites remain the authoritative source for ballot measures and constitutional amendments on the same ticket as federal races. Sample ballots posted online let you research judges and transit levies before entering the booth, shortening lines for voters who arrive prepared.