Polling hours for Election Day
The gist
Polling hours for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterms vary by state, from 5 a.m.
Voters in line at closing time can still cast a ballot, so the last hours decide the count.
How it unfolded
- Oct 30, 2026The Delaware Department of Elections, the state's election agency, issues a voting alert saying polling places open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on General Election Day, Nov. 3, 2026.
- Oct 31, 2026NBC Chicago reports that under Illinois state law polls open at 6 a.m. and stay open until 7 p.m.
- Nov 1, 2026WRAL reports North Carolina polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.