When the next US President will be revealed in Australian time

The US election is now just hours away – but if you’re confused, you’re not the only one. Here’s a blow-by-blow account of what to expect.

One of the most important elections in recent history is about to kick off – but what does it mean for Aussies watching to action unfold at home?

Polling open and close times vary according to individual states – and the US also has many different time zones – which means it can be confusing to know how the election process will play out.

Here’s a timeline of what we can expect from now – until a winner is revealed.

OVERNIGHT

The tiny town of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire is traditionally the first in the US to reveal it’s election results – and with a population of just 12 people, we already have the results.

That’s because voting opened there at 12am local time – 4pm AEDT on Tuesday – and just five ballots were cast.

All five went to Democratic hopeful Joe Biden.

It’s a similar tradition in Millsfield, where 21 registered voters cast their ballots at midnight as well, although Mr Trump managed to secure 16 votes in that community.

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Results will trickle in throughout the day, depending on time zones. Picture: Mark Makela/Getty Images/AFP

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At 10pm last night in Australia, it was 6am in many parts of the US, which is when the first round of polling opens (besides the two tiny villages mentioned above).

They include Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Voting opens half an hour later at 6.30am local time in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, which was 10.30pm Tuesday night AEDT.

Polling opens at 7am local time in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina – but because of those time zones, it was 10pm Tuesday here.

Voting opens at 7am in whole bunch of states including Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland and Massachusetts, which equated to 11pm Tuesday AEDT.

Voting in states such as Kentucky, Missouri and Louisiana open at 6am, but that also worked out to be 11pm Tuesday here.

Voting kicks off in Arizona at 6am local time, which was midnight AEDT.

Polling booths open at 7am local time in Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin which was also midnight here.

In Arkansas the action begins at 7.30am, or 12.30am AEDT, while many others kicked off overnight Australian time.

WEDNESDAY 10AM

The first polls will close at 10am tomorrow AEDT, while a string of exit polls should also be available form this time onwards.

WEDNESDAY 11AM

Polls close at this time in Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, most of Florida and Vermont followed by North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia half an hour later.

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We could know the next President any time from 1pm Australian time on Wednesday. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

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WEDNESDAY NOON

This is when polling officially closes in most states – 22 in fact.

WEDNESDAY 3PM-5PM

The last lot of states will close their polling at this time, and TV stations will begin calling states they predict will fall one way or another throughout the afternoon.

WHEN WILL WE KNOW THE WINNER?

That’s the million-dollar question this year – and it could be any time from 1pm on Wednesday Australia time, although it could take days.

That’s because of the record number of mail-in ballots this year as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Those ballots can’t begin to be counted until election day, and take longer to tally up.

INAUGURATION DAY

The President won’t be sworn in until the official inauguration day, which will be January 21 next year (or early January 21 for Aussies watching at home).