SEATTLE — The flurry of political ads and text messages from candidates is soon coming to an end as Election Day takes place Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Several key races in Washington include the quest for the state’s top office, or the race to become Washington's chief legal officer. There are also dozens of local races and measures, including school funding levies.
Here’s when voting results drop on election night.
In Washington state, polls close at 8 p.m. The initial round of results drops by 8:15 p.m. on election night. This first batch of votes often includes people who submitted their ballots prior to Nov. 5, by mail or via a ballot drop box.
You’ll continue to see ballot drop results updated every afternoon through Nov. 27, though the specific time of day varies by county. These results can shift some narrowly decided races or widen the gap between opposing candidates.
Election results are certified in Washington state by Thursday, Dec. 5.
Across the nation, most polls close at 8 p.m. within the state’s time zone. However, a handful of states close their polls between 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.
The first results of the Presidential Election will drop just after 8 p.m. PST, though, the official winner of the presidential race may not be known until a later time. Generally, The Associated Press and major TV networks announce who will be the next president.
KING 5 coverage
You can follow NBC and KING 5’s in-depth, continuous live coverage throughout election night.
NBC's coverage starts at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, after a special 3 p.m. edition of KING 5 News.
As ballot boxes close at 8 p.m. in Washington, tune in to the KING5+ streaming app for breaking results and analysis. Coverage continues through the evening on KONG, starting at 9 p.m. with all the big races on KING 5 New at 11 p.m.
