Election Day is now here.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5 the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump comes to a close, and the final votes will be cast.
Here’s everything you need to know to ensure your vote is counted, along with more information below.
How to Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote
Anyone who has already registered to vote in past elections does not need to re-register every year, unless there is a change in name, address, or political affiliation.
Each state’s voter registration update or re-registration deadline can be found on the respective Board of Elections website.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Voters can typically find their designated polling locations in public buildings such as schools, community centers, churches, or municipal buildings. These locations are determined by their residential address and can be found by visiting their state or county election office website, as well as through Vote.org or the U.S. Election Assistance Commission website.
How to Check the Status of Your Ballot
Nearly 78 million people have already cast their votes, and in all states except Illinois, Missouri, and Wyoming, voters can check the status of their ballots online.
For those who voted using a mail-in or absentee ballot, many states offer online databases where citizens can input personal information, such as their name, date of birth, and zip code, to check if their ballot has been counted.
You can click on the 47 states plus D.C. below to check the status of your mail-in ballot: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
When Do the Results Come Out?
After polling officially ends, the tallies across states will come in at different paces, and because the race is so tight, counting could continue well past Election Night.
In 2020, it took until Saturday (November 7) for networks to project a winner in the presidential race, following Election Day on Tuesday (November 3).
Who’s Ahead in the Polls?
Trump and Harris are in a tight race across seven key battleground states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, with candidates frequently alternating their lead based on the latest polls.
A recent New York Times/Siena poll, released on Sunday, shows Harris pulling ahead of Trump in North Carolina and Wisconsin. Trump continues to lead in Arizona, while the candidates are effectively tied in Pennsylvania, each receiving 48 percent of the vote.
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