7:00 p.m.: Vote counting begins in Georgia, South Carolina, and six other states

Vote counting starts Tuesday night, November 1, as polls close in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Results will emerge in stages over the next twelve hours, with final tallies potentially taking days or weeks to complete. The Senate race will likely be the last to resolve, as margins in seven competitive states are tight and two states use ranked-choice voting that extends the count. House control may become clear sooner due to wider voting margins, though the chamber's fate will depend on multiple seats rather than a single contest.

In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff is expected to defeat Republican Representative Mike Collins for the Senate seat. The governor's race is tighter, featuring Republican nominee Rick Jackson and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told local news outlets that new laws now require counties to report results within one hour of polls closing, a change from past delays.

South Carolina presents an unexpectedly tight Senate contest between Senator Darline Graham and Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. Graham was appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Lindsey Graham. National polls describe the race in this heavily Republican state as a toss-up, while the Cook Political Report indicates a Republican advantage.

At 7:30 p.m., polls close in North Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia. North Carolina's Senate race is viewed as the most likely Democratic flip, pitting former Governor Roy Cooper against former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley. Democrats last won a Senate seat in the state in 2008, and losing this race would reduce the likelihood of a Democratic majority in the chamber.

In Ohio, the Senate race between Republican Senator Jon Husted and former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is deadlocked. Ohio has shifted from a swing state to a solidly Republican one in the last decade, making the close contest a focal point. In the governor's race, Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in polls. Ramaswamy recently launched an attack ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, drawing criticism that could impact both his own race and Husted's campaign.

Polls close at 8:00 p.m. in eighteen states and Washington, D.C., including Florida, Maine, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. In Florida, Republican Representative Byron Donalds holds a slight polling lead over Democrat David Jolly for governor, while incumbent Senator Ashley Moody is poised to win over Democrat Angie Nixon. Florida redrew its congressional maps before this election, creating seven competitive House seats according to the Cook Political Report, two of which are toss-ups.

Maine's Senate race pits incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson. Democrats view this seat as a key target because Collins is the only Republican holding a Senate seat in a state won by Kamala Harris in 2024. In Pennsylvania, three of the state's four competitive House races now lean Democratic, offering the party a potential bulk of wins in that state.

New Hampshire's Senate race has widened in favor of Democrat Chris Pappas over former Republican Senator John Sununu. Republicans see this as a long-shot pickup opportunity, especially since they are expected to win the popular governor's race. At 8:30 p.m., Arkansas polls close, offering insights into broader voting patterns despite a less competitive Senate race.

The 9:00 p.m. block includes Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, and Minnesota, where competitive Senate races could determine chamber control. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico faces Republican Ken Paxton for governor, with early voting data suggesting a Democratic lead that may shift as county totals arrive. In Kansas, Democrat Adam Hamilton is challenging Republican Senator Roger Marshall in a race described as too close to call. Iowa's open Senate race between Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek remains competitive, with three of the state's four congressional seats also in play.