The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election is generating global interest, including in India, with a highly competitive race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Here’s a breakdown of the timings and process for following the election results in Indian Standard Time (IST):
Voting Times and Poll Closures
- Voting Start: Polling stations open between 6 am and 8 am local time in the U.S. on November 5. In IST, this corresponds to 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm on November 5.
- Poll Closing: Most states will close their polls by 8 pm local time. In IST:
- Eastern Time (ET) poll closures at 8 pm translate to 6:30 am IST on November 6.
- In key swing states like Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Nevada, polls close between 5:30 am and 8:30 am IST on November 6.
Expected Result Timings for Key States (in IST)
- Georgia: First results likely around 5:30 am IST on November 6.
- North Carolina: Results expected soon after Georgia’s closure, likely by 6 am IST.
- Michigan: Polls close at 7:30 am IST, but complete results may not come until later on November 6.
- Arizona: Results from early voting may arrive quickly, but complete counts, especially for postal ballots, could take days.
- Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin: Results may take longer due to extended processing times, with Nevada accepting late-arriving mail ballots until November 9.
Inauguration of the Elected President
The winner of the election will be sworn in on January 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol, officially beginning their term in office.
Due to high early and mail-in voting numbers, it’s expected that the initial tallies will provide a strong indication of the outcome, though final counts, especially in states with delayed processing, may extend over several days.
