US election 2020: When polls open and close, when we’ll know the winner

It’s just over a day until the polls start to close in the US election. But there is one key time Australians should look out for.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden will face off within days as the US election draws nearer.

And by all accounts, it’s set to be a nailbiter.

Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most important elections in recent history.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?

The US election will be held on Tuesday, November 3.

For Aussies watching it unfold, it will kick off on that date local time, although most of the action will unfold the following day, on Wednesday, November 4.

The final result could be delayed for some time, which means we could know the next president on November 4 – or even weeks later.

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The US election is looking very different in 2020. Picture: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images/AFP

THE POLLS

Polls will close on Wednesday our time from 10am, but there is one key state Ausralians should keep an eye on.

All the polls close in Florida from midday, and if Mr Biden wins that key then it becomes virtually impossible for Mr Trump to win.

Here’s a round up of when the polls will open and close (in Australian time) in each US state.

The election will take place across America’s nine time zones, including Hawaii and Alaska.

The first polls will open at 6am US time in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Virginia and the latest closing time will occur at 9pm local time in Iowa, New York, and North Dakota.

• Alabama: 7am-7pm November 3 CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Alaska: 7am-8pm November 3 AKST (3am-4pm November 4 AEDT)

• Arizona: 6am-7pm November 3 MST (12am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Arkansas: 7.30am-7.30pm November 3 CST (12.30am-12.30pm November 4 AEDT)

• California: 7am-8pm November 3 PST (2am-3pm November 4 AEDT)

• Colorado: 7am-7pm November 3 MST (1am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Connecticut: 6am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Delaware: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (11pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Florida: 7am-7pm November 3 EST (11pm November 3-11am November 4 AEDT)

• Georgia: 7am-7pm November 3 EST (11pm November 3-11am November 4 AEDT)

• Hawaii: 7am-7pm November 3 HST (4am-4pm November 3 AEDT)

• Idaho: 8am-8pm November 3 MST (2am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• Illinois: 6am-7pm November 3 CST (11pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Indiana: 6am-6pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-10am November 4 AEDT)

• Iowa: 7am-9pm November 3 CST (12am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• Kansas: 7am-7pm CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Kentucky: 6am-6pm November 3 CST/EST (11pm November 3-11am November 4 AEDT)

• Louisiana: 6am-8pm November 3 CST (11pm November 3-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Maine: 6am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Maryland: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (11pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Massachusetts: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (11pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Michigan: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Minnesota: 7am-8pm November 3 CST (12am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Mississippi: 7am-7pm November 3 CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Missouri: 6am-7pm November 3 CST (11pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Montana: 7am-8pm November 3 MST (1am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• Nebraska: 8am-8pm November 3 CST (1am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Nevada: 7am-7pm November 3 PST (2am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• New Hampshire: Varies

• New Jersey: 6am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• New Mexico: 7am-7pm November 3 MST (1am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• New York: 6am-9pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• North Carolina: 6.30am-7.30pm November 3 EST (10.30pm November 3-11.30am November 4 AEDT)

• North Dakota: 7am-9pm November 3 CST (12am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• Ohio: 6.30am-7.30pm November 3 EST (10.30pm November 3-11.30am November 4 AEDT)

• Oklahoma: 7am-7pm November 3 CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Oregon: Most voting by mail

• Pennsylvania: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Rhode Island: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• South Carolina: 7am-8pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• South Dakota: 7am-7pm November 3 CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Tennessee: Varies

• Texas: 7am-7pm November 3 CST (12am-12pm November 4 AEDT)

• Utah: 7am-8pm November 3 MST (1am-2pm November 4 AEDT)

• Vermont: Opening time varies, polls close 7pm November 3 EST (11am November 4 AEDT)

• Virginia: 6am-7pm November 3 EST (10pm November 3-11am November 4 AEDT)

• Washington: Opening time varies, polls close 8pm November 3 PST (3pm November 4 AEDT)

• West Virginia: 6.30am-7.30pm November 3 EST (10.30pm November 3-11.30am November 4 AEDT)

• Wisconsin: 7am-8pm November 3 CST (12am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

• Wyoming: 7am-7pm November 3 MST (1am-1pm November 4 AEDT)

WHEN WILL COUNTING START?

Counting for both mail-in ballots and in-person votes begins on election day, although postal votes take longer to tally.

Experts are also expecting delays at the ballot box as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which could slow down the process.

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We might not know the final result for weeks. Picture: Robyn Beck/AFP

WHEN WILL WE SEE THE FIRST RESULTS?

Throughout the day, news organisations will typically call a state once they believe one candidate has a clear lead there, although those calls are not set in stone.

And while polls close at different times in different states, a result is traditionally announced on election night, usually before or around 10pm.

That means that in Australia, it’s possible we could have a result by around 1pm on Wednesday, November 4 AEST.

However, there are fears a final result may not be known for days or even weeks this time around because of a massive increase in people voting by mail in 2020 because of the threat of COVID-19, which was made all the clearer after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron were all struck down by the illness.

Those votes take longer to count, and in some states, postal votes may still be accepted after election day, depending on the local law.

In other words, we will start getting initial results within hours, but when we’ll get the final official winner is anyone’s guess.

HOW LONG HAS EARLY VOTING BEEN POSSIBLE?

While the exact dates varied from state to state, absentee ballots began to be mailed out to voters from early September until mid-October.

According to CNBC, more than half of all states started sending out their ballots before the start of October, while eight states were also scheduled to open up early in-person voting in September, although most opened early in-person voting in mid-October.

HOW MANY MAIL-IN VOTES ARE EXPECTED?

In short – a lot.

While the exact figure isn’t known, experts predict it will be in the tens of millions.

In fact, according to the New York Times, around 80 million mail ballots are expected this election – more than double 2016’s number.

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There’s a record number of postal votes to contend with this year. Picture: Saul Loeb/AFP

WHAT ARE THE KEY SWING STATES?

A handful of crucial swing states which could go either way – known as “battleground states” – could determine the outcome.

This year, they include Florida, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Arizona.

HOW DOES US VOTING WORK?

In America, elections are not determined by a popular vote, but instead by the electoral college.

All 50 states and Washington DC have a certain number of “electors”, depending on the size of the state, who then vote for a candidate on their constituents’ behalf.

There are 538 electors in total, and the presidency goes to the candidate who wins a majority of 270 electors.

Usually, the electoral vote mirrors the popular vote – but not in 2016 when Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but failed to secure the presidency.