After preparing for what’s been promised to be one of the most important elections of our lifetime, the day is finally here.
At this point, all voters have hopefully done their due diligence by registering, conducting research on the candidates and watching the presidential and vice presidential debates. After casting your ballot, thereâs only one thing left to do: wait. But, with the stakes at hand, it can be painful to sit still without feeling left in the dark or doomscrolling through every social media feed.
Luckily, election night also means election night coverage â you donât have to rely on texts from your friends or relatives to keep you in the loop. Throughout the night, all of the major news outlets will be providing analysis, live updates, and vote counts as they come in.
Keep reading for our comprehensive guide on how to watch as the nation decides whether Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump will become the 47th President of the United States.
What Time Do Election Results Start Tonight?
Most TV networks will cover the election and forecast potential results throughout the morning and afternoon, but concrete information wonât be available until the evening; the exact time will vary depending on which state youâre in. This could be anywhere from as early as 6 p.m. ET in states like Indiana and Kentucky or as late as 1 a.m. ET in certain areas in Alaska.
According to CBS News, over half of the 50 U.S. states will be closing between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET, though, so get ready for things to start heating up at, or a little before, this time.
Where Can I Watch The Election Results on TV?
Every voter has their own routine when it comes to voting. Some people cast their vote and forget about it, while others obsess over it. If you’re in the latter category, here are some networks that you should consider tuning into:
ABC: ABCâs coverage will begin at 7 p.m. ET, just as polls begin to close. The event will be headlined by David Muir and Linsey Davis, and co-anchored by Martha Raddatz, Jonathan Karl, Mary Bruce, Rachel Scott, Terry Moran and Rick Klein.
The network will also incorporate a âBallot Watchâ desk, a unit consisting of Pierre Thomas, Aaron Katersky, Dan Abrams, and Kate Shaw, which will monitor all storylines related to the election.
The network previously hosted the second President debate of the election cycle, the first meeting between Harris and Trump.
CBS: The network will continue its coverage at 7 p.m. ET, where Norah OâDonnell will be joined by the CBS News team, including Margaret Brennan, John Dickerson, Gayle King, Cecilia Vega, Robert Costa, and Ed OâKeefe.
The network previously hosted the Vice Presidential debate on Oct. 1.
CNN: Starting at 4 p.m. ET, CNN will transition to its Election Night in America coverage, hosted by Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper and featuring Dana Bash, Erin Burnett, Audie Cornish, and Chris Wallace.
The network hosted the first Presidential debate of the election cycle on June 27, while current President Joe Biden was still running for re-election.
C-Span: C-Span is offering 17 hours of commercial-free analysis and tracking starting at 7 p.m. ET, which will be piloted by Greta Bawner, Peter Slen, Tammy Thueringer, Pedro Echevarria, and John McArdle.
Fox News: Fox News will have its election coverage start at 6 p.m. ET, led by Bret Bair and Martha MacCallum. The team will be rounded out by Bill Hemmer, Sandra Smith, and other mainstays on the network.
CNBC: For CNBC, Carl Quintanilla will spearhead Your Money, Your Vote, a look into how the election results could affect the economy, at 7 p.m. ET. Heâll be accompanied by Jim Cramer, Sara Eisen, and Scott Wapner.
MSNBC: At 6 p.m. ET, MSNBC will air Decision 2024, a live special driven by Rachel Maddow and Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Lawrence OâDonnell, Stephanie Ruhle, and Jen Psaki.
PBS: PBS News will commence its coverage at 7 p.m. ET as presenters Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett are joined by a team of correspondents and reporters, including Lisa Desjardins, Laura Barrón López, William Brangham, John Yang, Stephanie Sy, Miles OâBrien, and Judy Woodruff.
Where Can I Stream The Election Results?
We get it â not everyone watches cable television anymore. If you fall into that group, networks like ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, will be concurrently streaming updates on YouTube.
Additionally, some outlets and streaming services are making significant strides in their online offerings. Here are some other streaming programs worth checking out.
Max: CNN’s Election Night in America will also be available to watch live on Max.
MSNBC: Steve Kornacki, the breakout star from the last election cycle, is returning to this yearâs cable broadcast. But, for those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at how he crunches the numbers, MSNBC will stream “Kornacki Cam” on its social media accounts throughout the night.
Paramount+: Paramount+ will also house CBS News’ election programming.
Peacock: Peacock announced it’s bringing back the Multiview experience, which was heavily utilized throughout the platformâs coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics, for Election Day. The festivities will get going at 6 p.m. ET.
Prime Video: In the streaming platformâs first attempt at live news coverage, Prime Video will welcome in Brian Williams as he hosts Election Night Live with Brian Williams, a one-night only event beginning at 5 p.m. ET.
When Will We Know How Won the 2024 Presidential Election?
With the rise of mail-in ballots, counting them takes a bit longer than traditional voting methods. Depending on each state’s deadlines, voters can generally expect final results to be tallied at least a couple of days after the polls close.
In the meantime, try not to worry about what you canât control. Instead, use your time wisely â like catching up on that show you’ve been putting off.
The post When Does Election Coverage Start? How To Watch 2024 Presidential Election Results appeared first on Decider.
