When do we find out who won the election today

As of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, voters across the United States are casting their ballots in the midterm elections. While many Americans expect to know the winners by the end of the night, election officials emphasize that the process of counting votes is complex and rarely concludes on election day itself. Polls will begin closing across different time zones starting at 6:00 PM ET, but the release of results depends heavily on state-specific laws regarding the processing of mail-in and early ballots. In states that allow pre-processing of these ballots, results may be available shortly after polls close. Conversely, states that prohibit counting mail-in ballots until election day may experience significant delays, potentially stretching the tabulation process over several days. Media organizations will project winners based on statistical models once enough data is available, but these are unofficial tallies. Final, certified results are typically not confirmed until the canvassing process is completed in the weeks following the election, ensuring that every legal vote is accurately accounted for in the final tally.