When will we know who won? Nine states’ Nov. 3 counting timelines

**North Carolina — polls close at 4:30 p.m. PT.** Election-night results remain unofficial while counties add absentee ballots received by the 7:30 p.m. ET deadline and eligible provisional ballots. Cure timing depends on the defect: the state memo sets noon Nov. 10 for some envelope cures and 5 p.m. Nov. 12 for specified documentation. Counties certify Nov. 13; the state canvass is Nov. 24, with a limited extension if county abstracts are missing. [Official guidance](https://www.ncsbe.gov/about-elections/election-security/post-election-procedures-and-audits)

**Texas — polls close at 5 p.m. PT across most of the state and 6 p.m. PT in the Mountain Time portion.** Election-night totals exclude some lawful late-arriving ballots. Qualifying domestic mail ballots postmarked by the close may arrive through 5 p.m. local Nov. 4; military and overseas ballots and carrier-envelope cures are due Nov. 9. Local canvasses run Nov. 6–17. The statewide canvass has not been scheduled; its legal window is Nov. 21–Dec. 7. [Official advisory](https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2026-28.shtml)

**Maine — polls close at 5 p.m. PT.** Municipalities may process absentee ballots before Election Day, but counting begins after the 8 p.m. ET close. All absentee ballots must arrive by then, and correctable defects must be resolved before that same deadline. Municipalities send results to the state within two days; a ranked-choice tabulation may follow if required. The secretary of state’s certification deadline is Nov. 23. [Official explanation](https://www3.maine.gov/sos/news/general-election-two-months-away-secretary-states-office-provides-update-maine-election-1)

**New York — polls close at 6 p.m. PT.** Initial results can change as affidavit ballots and timely mail ballots arrive and are reviewed. Civilian mail ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 10; eligible military and overseas ballots may arrive through Nov. 16. A cure is due seven business days after notice or by 5 p.m. Nov. 10, whichever is later. Counties certify by Nov. 28, and the state certification deadline is Dec. 15. [Official calendar](https://elections.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/12/2026-political-calendar-quad-fold-12.9.2025-final.pdf)

**Alaska — polls close at 9 p.m. PT in most of the state and 10 p.m. PT in the Aleutian zone.** Election-night reporting precedes the absentee and questioned-ballot review. Domestic mailed ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 may arrive through Nov. 13; overseas mailed ballots may arrive through Nov. 18. Alaska has no statewide absentee-ballot cure process for this election. Regional counting ends Nov. 18, and the Division of Elections targets Nov. 25 for certification. [Official calendar](https://www.elections.alaska.gov/calendar/)

**Pennsylvania — polls close at 5 p.m. PT.** Grant-funded counties begin mail-ballot pre-canvassing at 7 a.m. ET, but no totals may be disclosed before polls close. Civilian mail ballots are due by 8 p.m. ET Nov. 3; eligible military and overseas ballots may arrive through Nov. 10. Pennsylvania has no uniform statewide signature-cure deadline because county practices vary; mail-ballot proof of identification is due Nov. 9. Counties must certify official returns by Nov. 23. [Official calendar](https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/dos/programs/voting-and-elections/running-for-office/2026/2026-general-election-calendar.pdf)

**Arizona — polls close at 6 p.m. PT.** The first report typically contains early ballots processed before Election Day, followed by Election Day votes. Early ballots dropped off on Election Day and provisional ballots take longer because officials must verify them first. All early ballots are due by 7 p.m. Arizona time Nov. 3, and the cure deadline is Nov. 8. County canvasses are due Nov. 19; the official statewide canvass is Nov. 23. [Official procedures](https://azsos.gov/elections/about-elections/elections-procedures/post-election-procedures)

Close races may remain uncalled until officials finish these steps. A projection from a news outlet is not certification, and certification is not delayed merely because lawful ballots are still being counted. Voters should use their state or county election office for ballot-specific questions.

What's still unknown: How close the races will be, which states will see recounts, and when news organizations will be able to project winners. Recount triggers and some final certification dates depend on the margins and canvass dates once counting ends.

This service explainer covers ordinary statutory counting and certification procedures, not forecasts. Deadlines come from the official state election sources listed below, checked Oct. 27-28, 2026. Times are converted to Pacific time for US Brief readers.