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What Time Do Polls Open on Election Day?

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What Time Do Polls Open on Election Day?

More than 78 Million voters expected to cast their votes tomorrow

Millions of Americans will vote in person in the 2024 election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Check the times that polls open and close, since the hours vary by state, and 15 states have areas falling into two different time zones. States will begin reporting election results after their polls close.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia offer some form of early voting , and eight states along with D.C. allow a vote-by-mail system across the board. More than 78 million voters cast their ballots early this year.

What time do the first polls open on Election Day 2024?

The first poll opening times on the East Coast are in Vermont, where certain locations (but not all) open at 5 a.m. ET. Polling places in all or parts of five more states open at 6 a.m. ET. See a full list below.

Here’s when polls open in each state on Election Day:

Oregon is a vote-by-mail state, so it has no in-person polling locations.

As early as 5 a.m. ET

Vermont (Polls open between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m)
6 a.m. ET

Connecticut
Kentucky (Polling sites in the west open at 7 a.m. ET)
Maine (Polling locations open between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. depending on town population.)
New Jersey
New York
Virginia
6:30 a.m. ET

North Carolina
Ohio
West Virginia
7 a.m. ET

Alabama
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida (8 a.m. ET in parts of the Florida Panhandle on Central time)
Georgia
New Hampshire (Opening times vary by county with the earliest starting at 7 a.m. ET)
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas (Varies by county; check with your local election office for polling hours)
Louisiana
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan (Polling sites in four Upper Peninsula counties open at 8 a.m. ET)
Missouri
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island (Polls in New Shoreham open at 9 a.m. ET)
South Carolina
Wyoming
8 a.m. ET

Arizona
Iowa
Minnesota (Counties with a population of less than 500 are not required to open until 11 a.m. ET)
Mississippi
Oklahoma
North Dakota (Polls start opening at 8 a.m. ET and vary by county. )
South Dakota (Polling locations in the west open at 9 a.m. ET)
Tennessee
Texas (Polling sites in three western counties open at 9 a.m. ET)
Wisconsin
8:30 a.m. ET

Arkansas
9 a.m. ET

Colorado
Montana (Polling sites in counties with less than 400 registered voters can open as late as 2 p.m. ET)
Nebraska
Nevada (Polling sites open at 10 a.m. ET with the exception of City Hall in West Wendover)
New Mexico
Utah
10 a.m. ET

California
Idaho (Polling locations in the north open at 11 a.m. ET)
11 a.m. ET

Washington (Most voting is done by mail, so times vary by county)
Alaska (Polling sites open at 11 a.m. ET with the exception of Adak)
12 p.m. ET

Hawaii
What time do the first polls close on Election Day 2024?

The first polls to close on the East Coast are in eastern counties of Indiana and Kentucky, at 6 p.m. ET, then the rest of those states, as well as Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia, close at 7 p.m. ET.

Here’s when polls close in each state on Election Day:

7 p.m. ET

Georgia
Indiana (Polls close at 6 p.m. ET in the 80 counties in Eastern time zone)
Kentucky (Polls close at 6 p.m. ET for the 79 counties in the eastern part of the state)
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia
7:30 p.m. ET

North Carolina
Ohio
West Virginia
8 p.m. ET

Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida (Polls in Eastern time zone close at 7 p.m. ET; part of Panhandle are in Central time zone)
Illinois
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire (Polling hours vary by municipality and are listed by location )
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Tennessee
8:30 p.m. ET

Arkansas
9 p.m. ET

Arizona
Colorado
Iowa
Kansas (Polling locations close at 8 p.m. ET in all except four counties in the west)
Louisiana
Michigan (Polling locations close at 8 p.m. ET in all except four counties)
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota (Polls close at 8 p.m. ET in all but eight counties)
South Dakota (Polls close at 8 p.m. ET in the east)
Texas (Polls close at 8 p.m. ET for most of the state except three counties in the west)
Wisconsin
Wyoming
10 p.m. ET

Montana
Nevada (The polling location at City Hall in West Wendover closes at 9 p.m. ET)
Utah
11 p.m. ET

California
Idaho (Polling locations in the south close at 10 p.m. ET)
Oregon (Polling locations in Malheur County close at 10 p.m. ET)
Washington
12 a.m. ET

Hawaii
1 a.m. ET

Alaska (Polling locations close at 12 a.m. with the exception of Adak)

By: Emily Hung, CBS News

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced its football playoff field.

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced its first-round football playoff pairings on Sunday.

All games will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday.

In Division III , Tri-Valley (10-0) earned the No. 3 seed and hosts No. 14 seed Carrollton (7-3) at Jack Anderson Stadium in Region 11. Unbeaten, top-ranked Columbus Watterson earned the No. 1 seed.

In Division IV , No. 3 seed New Lexington (9-1) welcomes No. 14 seed Canton South (4-6), while No. 11 Philo (6-4) visits No. 5 Circleville Logan Elm (7-3). Unbeaten Gnadenhutten Indian Valley is the top seed.

West Muskingum (8-2) earned the No. 7 seed and hosts No. 10 Columbus Africentric (7-3) in Division V , Region 19, where unbeaten Ironton is top seeded; Ridgewood (9-1) is the No. 3 seed and Buckeye Trail (6-4) the 13th seed in Division VI , Region 23. The Generals welcome No. 14 seed Mechanicsburg (7-3), while the Warriors head to fourth seed Fort Frye (7-3). Grandview Heights in the No. 1 seed.

Tri-Valley, 17-15 in the playoffs overall, is in the postseason for the 15th time, all since 2006. This marks the Scotties’ first 10-0 regular season since 2014.

New Lex, with nine wins for the first time since 2008, is making its 11th appearance and third straight; Philo is also making its 11th trip, with seven coming under coach Dirk Lincicome since 2013.

West M is in for the third straight year under coach Nathan Brownrigg, who led the school to its first playoff win in 2022. The Tornadoes have six playoff appearances all time.

Ridgewood continued its run of playoff berths under coach John Slusser, whose teams haven’t missed the postseason since 2017 and have 18 appearances in the postseason since 2003. Slusser has led them to 17 of those, highlighted by a state semifinal trip in 2009.

By Sam Blackburn, Newsbreak

HOT DEBATE ALERT!

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Does the Republican Party Truly Represent African Diaspora Values Better Than the Democratic Party?

On November 1st, Shafi Shafat, former Republican State Representative candidate, will take the stage at the African Debate Series to tackle this powerful question:


“The Republican Party DOES represent the interests and values of the African diaspora more than the Democratic Party.”

Don’t miss out on this chance to hear bold perspectives on what truly represents our community! Bring your voice, bring your passion, and let’s make an impact together!

Hosted by:
• Ohio African Chamber of Commerce
• Ohio State University
• Somali American Chamber of Commerce

Mark your calendar! Let’s make our voices heard!

Cheerleaders Flee As Fans Throw Trash On Field

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A controversial call during Ohio State’s win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers left cheerleaders running for cover on Saturday afternoon.

In the final few minutes of the game, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola completed a pass to Jahmal Banks, who was hit hard by Ohio State’s Arvell Reese. The ball popped free, but officials ruled that targeting took place.

Following a review, officials confirmed targeting on the play and ejected Reese from the contest. A furious Ryan Day objected to the call and was flagged with a sideline warning, which was eventually rescinded.

Ohio State fans were so furious with the call on the field that they started launching anything they could find in the general direction of the officials. Everything from beer, to Fireball, to cups of cheese whiz were launched onto the field.

Unfortunately fans ended up throwing trash at their own cheerleading squad, which was forced to run for cover from the projectiles.

Thankfully no one appeared to be injured in the fracas, but it shows what can happen when a raucous crowd doesn’t get the call they’re looking for.

In the end, Ohio State walked out with a 21-17 win after Raiola threw a game-ending interception that allowed the Buckeyes to run out the clock.

By: Andrew McCarty, Newsbreak

North Columbus neighborhood hit by car break-ins

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Car break-ins and thefts have become widespread in Columbus, leading to growing frustration among residents.

On Wednesday night, several vehicles were targeted on the city’s north side. One victim, Jesse Toy, recounted how a thief broke his car’s window, attempted to steal the vehicle, and made off with his laptop.

“The rear right passenger window is smashed; that’s how they accessed my car. There was also damage to the steering column and ignition, which is barely hanging on,” he explained.

Toy, living in north Columbus, reported the break-in occurred around 11:30 PM on Wednesday. Following the incident, he expressed feelings of defeat.

“Everyone puts in hard work for what they own. It’s disheartening—my car was fully paid off,” Toy remarked.

He is not alone in his experience; other residents in the north Columbus area faced similar break-ins that night.

“Even within an hour of my car being hit, the police mentioned there were several break-ins on Schrock Road as well,” Toy noted.

His neighbor, Ibrahim Bundu, experienced a similar situation two weeks prior, though nothing was stolen from his vehicle.

“Someone broke into my car through the passenger side and rummaged through my glove compartment, taking all my registration and documents. I’m not sure if they actually stole anything; I didn’t notice anything missing,” Bundu said.

Sadly, there’s not much residents can do to stop their vehicles from being targeted.

Kara Hitchens from AAA Ohio suggested that a visible deterrent, such as a steering wheel lock, might discourage thieves.

“Any visible security measure could make thieves think twice, as it shows that people are taking proactive steps to protect their belongings,” she advised.

Toy’s experience mirrors that of many Columbus residents lately, and the trend of thefts and vandalism shows no signs of slowing down. Both Toy and Bundu expressed their concerns about safety.

“If someone can break into a car, they might also target your home,” Bundu warned.

“I’m not sure what’s driving this wave of car break-ins in the city, but it feels like an epidemic,” Toy added.

Hitchens suggested that to minimize the risk of break-ins or theft, it’s best to park in garages, well-lit areas, or places surrounded by other cars.

By: Delaney Ruth, Newsbreak

Pioneering Dreams:

Pioneering Dreams: The Inspiring Journey of Shafi Towards the American Dream.

“Success isn’t just about achieving your dreams; it’s about empowering others to reach theirs.”

Shafi’s story is one of resilience, determination, and a relentless pursuit of the American dream. Arriving in the United States just a decade ago, Shafi embarked on a journey that would not only transform his own life but also uplift countless others within his community.

Starting out as a truck driver, Shafi recognized the importance of education as a pathway to greater opportunities. He enrolled at Columbus State Community College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree, laying the foundation for his future endeavors.

Drawing upon his experiences in the trucking industry, Shafi took a bold leap and founded Batel Express LLC, a venture that would not only thrive but also create employment opportunities for over 59 individuals, contributing to the local economy.

But Shafi’s ambition didn’t stop there. Understanding the significance of higher education, he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Logistics Management from Franklin University. Armed with knowledge and expertise, Shafi went on to establish the Somali Chamber of Commerce, assuming the role of president and championing the interests of minority businesses in Central Ohio.

Undeterred by challenges, Shafi stepped into the realm of politics, running as a candidate for State Representative in District 10, a testament to his commitment to effecting positive change within his community.

Even amidst his various roles and responsibilities, Shafi remains rooted in the working class, serving as a sales representative and director of relations at Fydafreightliner Columbus, where he continues to make strides in the transportation industry.

Additionally, Shafi’s dedication to amplifying the voices of immigrants led him to establish Dalmar TV, a local television station serving as a platform for the diverse narratives of newcomers in Central Ohio.

Furthermore, Shafi’s contributions extend beyond business and media. With his commercial driving license, he traversed the entirety of the United States, delivering loads and serving the nation with dedication. His role as a truck driver not only contributed to the economy but also provided vital services across the 48 states.

Moreover, Shafi’s involvement as a conflict resolution president within the West Side Somali Community underscores his dedication to fostering harmony and understanding among immigrant societies. Coming from war-torn countries themselves, many immigrants in Columbus faced unique challenges and conflicts. Shafi’s role as a mediator and peacemaker has been instrumental in resolving disputes and promoting cohesion within these communities.

Through his unwavering determination and tireless advocacy, Shafi has emerged as a beacon of hope and inspiration, embodying the transformative power of hard work, education, community engagement, and conflict resolution. His journey serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities that await those who dare to dream and strive for a better future.

“Resilience turns adversity into opportunity, and determination fuels the journey towards greatness.”

Westside Columbus Cheers as Ali Hussein Leads the Way!

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Columbus, OH – December 23, 2023 – In a night buzzing with joy and anticipation, the Somali Bantu community of Columbus’ west side celebrated the selection of their new leader, Ali Hussein! The vibrant atrium of the Courtyard Marriott Columbus West/Hilliard (2350 Westbelt Dr) thrummed with excitement as hundreds gathered to witness this momentous occasion.

Ali, a young man with a fire in his eyes and a dream of a brighter future, resonated deeply with the community. He promised to pave the way for good jobs, smart skills, and a stronger connection to local resources. The people, tired of struggling but brimming with resilience, saw in him a chance to rise together.

“This isn’t just about me,” Ali declared, his voice echoing through the atrium, met with thunderous applause. “We’re one big family, and together, we’ll build a future where our kids can soar!”

The selection wasn’t a mere vote; it was a powerful collective decision made by trusted community organization leaders. By choosing Ali, they entrusted him with the responsibility of guiding their people, confident in his ability to unite and empower them.

The ceremony wasn’t just about celebrating Ali’s selection; it was about celebrating the community’s spirit. Young and old, families and friends, all came together as one, their faces beaming with pride and anticipation. This wasn’t just a change in leadership – it was a chance to take charge of their own destiny, with Ali as their chosen guide.

With Ali at the helm and the community standing behind him, Westside Columbus can expect positive change. His plans for jobs, skills, and local support offer a roadmap to success, paving the way for a brighter future. Ali’s selection isn’t just a victory for him – it’s a victory for every member of the Somali Bantu community, ready to walk together towards a more prosperous tomorrow.

Dalmar TV

Bulsho Show

Bulsho” is a crucial show for the Somali community in Central Ohio, tackling local issues that directly impact their lives. Through insightful discussions, the program keeps viewers informed and engaged, serving as a platform for community dialogue and unity. “Bulsho” is more than just a show; it’s a vital source of connection and awareness for the Somali community in Central Ohio.

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Sheikh Hamse Show

Sheikh Hamse,” a captivating weekly Islamic religious show broadcasted on Dalmar TV, stands as a beacon of spiritual guidance within the community. With unwavering dedication, Sheikh Hamse takes on the role of a knowledgeable and compassionate guide, addressing the community’s questions and concerns with profound wisdom and clarity

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