On election night do they wait until the polls close on the west...

Most sources call a state’s winner as soon as possible after polls close in that state.

It’s been a long time since the winner for president has been called before the last polls close (Hawaii).

In 2008 Obama was declared the winner about a minute after the polls on the Pacific coast closed.

What about in 2012?

Took longer in 2012 because it wasn't such a blowout as 2008.

I think it was NC last time that took forever

Mail-in ballots due to Covid, won't take nearly as long this time around.

OP...just curious.

Are you VERY young or not an American or just dim?

Being quite young or not being an American would be good excuses to not understand how this all works. Otherwise, you must be dumb.

AP 2020 race calls

The media does announce the winner of each state as the results come in.

However, the media does not declare a winner of the presidential election until the polls on the West Coast have closed.

At the same time, the media could declare a presidential winner before the polls close in Hawaii.

I’m calling it now: Kamala is the 47th president

Fingers crossed.

Polls don’t close in Ohio until 730pm.

The rural counties will come in first, so that should give an idea of how Ohio is trending, anyway.

What time do you think they will call it tomorrow (or will it drag on for days.)

I can’t wait!!! So excited.

For armchair politicos, this is the Olympics!

Polls close in New England at 8:00 PM. I want answers no later than 8:30 and I'm being lax.

Trump is gonna call the race tomorrow evening. Fat fuck is gonna try and muddy the waters.

It was a joke in 1984, the first time I stayed up to watch. The whole national map was Reagan, we all could see it, but let’s wait respectfully until 8pm Pacific!

R18 I was so shocked at that sweep. I smell a rat.

In the past, they've announced the results as they get them. So Eastern would be first.

In 1980 the 3 networks called it for Reagan at 5 pm Pacific, three hours before the polls closed in Calif.

I hadn’t event voted yet—my dorm floor went to the polling station in our commons en mass, just before dinner at 5:30, to no effect. IIRC, there were only two Reagan voters among us.

R20 no shit. I thought they would they called it inreverse order, like Miss America?!

Expect projected winner first. They're chicken to call it too fast even though they know.

Poll: who’s the greater idiot: R20 or R23?

Kentucky and Indiana are usually the first states projected. Both states close polls at 6 pm, but since both states are split between the Eastern and Central time zones the projections aren't announced until 7 pm EST, along with 7 pm closers Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia.

Alaska closes polls at midnight EST, and Hawaii is last at 1 am EST.