As Election Day unfolds, Americans across the country are heading to polling stations to cast their votes. With poll opening times varying by state—and in some cases, within counties or municipalities—knowing when to arrive is crucial for in-person voters.
Here’s an overview of the earliest opening times across various states, with all times listed in Eastern Time (ET):
6 a.m. ET: Voters in states like Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and parts of Kentucky and Indiana can begin casting their ballots. In Maine, most locations open between 6 and 8 a.m., but smaller municipalities may open as late as 10 a.m. New Hampshire towns can open polls from 6 to 11 a.m., with Dixville Notch leading the way at midnight.
6:30 a.m. ET: Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Vermont are among states where polls begin opening at 6:30 a.m. Some Vermont municipalities open as early as 5 a.m. or as late as 10 a.m., although the earliest today is at 6:30 a.m.
7 a.m. ET: Polls in states like Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, and Pennsylvania open at 7 a.m. Tennessee’s polling stations in areas with populations over 120,000 must also open by this time.
8 a.m. ET: Later-opening states include Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. In Minnesota and North Dakota, municipalities with smaller populations may open as late as 11 a.m. ET. Texas polling places vary, with those in Central Time opening at 8 a.m. ET and those in Mountain Time opening an hour later.
