Election 2020: What Time Do The Polls Open And 7 Other FAQs Answered

There’s a good chance the world won’t know who won the 2020 presidential election on Election Night.

More people than ever are voting by mail this year due to the pandemic, and mail ballots take longer to count than ballots cast at polling places. But because each state has its own rules for how votes are counted and reported, some will report results sooner than others. With this year being so different, it's safe to say that voters have questions.

With voting at the forefront of the presidential race, there's plenty to know about the election.

What time do polls open/close?

Polling hours vary by city or county, with most states starting around 6 a.m. or 7 a.m. and closing anywhere from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Voting by mail differs in each state as well. Postmark deadlines and deadlines by which voters can drop off their ballots in person all vary between states. Check Ballotopedia or the image below to find out what time you can vote on Tuesday in your county/state.

Where can I vote?

Poll locations differ by county. Click here to visit Vote.org to find out where to vote. Just enter your address in the search bar and click search to find the nearest polling station.

How many people voted early?

Over 95 million people voted early. That's almost twice as many pre-election votes as were cast in the 2016 election, according to the U.S. Elections Project.

How many people used mail-in ballots early?

Over 60 million people have returned their mail-in ballots so far. Democrats have cast nearly double the amount of mail-in ballots compared to Republican voters, USA Today reports.

How many people went to the polls early?

Over 34 million people went to the polls early. The Democrat lead from mail-in voting has been tightened by a more balanced turnout at in-person early voting sites in battleground states like Florida, Nevada, and North Carolina, CNN reports.

Will there be election day violence?

While nothing is certain, the White House seems to be prepared for some spirited protests. As IBT previously reported, federal authorities are expected to put another "non-scalable" fence around the entire perimeter of the White House in preparation for possible unrest following the election. Other businesses around the country can be seen boarding up windows in anticipation of election night violence.

Do you need an ID to vote?

Two-thirds of states expect you to provide identification to let you vote at the polls. Your state’s laws determine whether you will need to show an ID and if so, what kind. About half of the states with voter ID laws accept only photo IDs. Visit USA.gov to find out your state identification laws.

When will the presidential winner be announced?

Election officials say the country should be prepared not to know who won the White House on Election Day, citing a surge of mail ballots that some states will need extra time to count.

Jennifer Morrell, a former election official, partner at The Elections Group, and a member of the National Task Force on Election Crises told Elle.com, “The good news is I don't think we will be waiting months... It could be a week or longer.”