In Germany, election night starts at midnight
The first polls close on 4 November 2026 at 0:00 CET.
The congressional election is on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. In Central European Time the first polls close on Wednesday, 4 November, at 0:00. That covers parts of Indiana and Kentucky. At 7:00 CET the polls are closed in every state, last of all in the Aleutians.
Between 2:00 and 3:00 CET is the first window for a direction. North Carolina and Ohio close at 1:30. The large block with Pennsylvania, Maine, Michigan, and Texas closes at 2:00. Virginia and Florida have been closed since 1:00. California, Washington, and Oregon close at 5:00. Hawaii and Alaska at 6:00.
A decision still that night has happened since 2018 only with a clear lead. In 2018 ABC called the House majority at 4:58 CET. In 2020, 2022, and 2024 the Associated Press call for the House took seven to eight days. The Senate was settled in 2020 only after the Georgia runoffs on 5 January 2021, and in 2022 on 12 November after Nevada.
California counts mail ballots that arrive by 10 November. Alaska publishes first preferences on election night. Ranked-choice counting is dated 18 November, certification 25 November. A government lawsuit could extend that. With ranked choice, Maine often needs one or two days before it is clear whether another round is required. Georgia votes on 1 December if a runoff is needed. In Louisiana a House runoff can fall on 12 December.
The time slider on the election night page jumps to the current half hour that night. The timeline lists the same sequence as a table. Where it takes longer is under counting.