US Midterm Results 2026: Poll Closing Times in Pakistan Time and When We Will Know the Winner
Americans vote in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, and for readers in Pakistan the results will arrive on Wednesday morning, November 4. The first polls close at 4am Pakistan time, the biggest wave of states closes at 6am, and the last polls in Alaska close at 11am. But with record early voting and several razor-close Senate races, some results could take days. Here is a complete guide to poll closing times in Pakistan time, which races to watch, and when we will know who controls Congress.
Election Day 2026: Key Facts
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- First polls close: 6pm Eastern time, which is 4am Wednesday in Pakistan
- Biggest wave: 8pm Eastern, which is 6am in Pakistan, when around 20 states close
- Last polls close: 1am Eastern in parts of Alaska, which is 11am in Pakistan
- What is at stake: all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships
- Expect delays: Votebeat says it is "very possible, even likely" that some key results will not be known by the morning after Election Day
Poll Closing Times in Pakistan Time (PKT)
US clocks move back an hour on November 1, so on Election Day Pakistan is 10 hours ahead of US Eastern time. Several states span two time zones, so some polling places close an hour later than the main time shown.
| Pakistan time (Wed, Nov 4) | States closing | Key races to watch |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 AM 6pm ET | Indiana, Kentucky (most of each state) | First early returns of the night |
| 5:00 AM 7pm ET | Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, most of Florida | Georgia Senate: Ossoff (D) vs Collins (R) |
| 5:30 AM 7:30pm ET | North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia | NC Senate: Cooper (D) vs Whatley (R); Ohio Senate: Brown (D) vs Husted (R) |
| 6:00 AM 8pm ET | Maine, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, most of Michigan, Texas and Kansas, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and more | Maine: Collins (R) vs Jackson (D); Michigan: Rogers (R) vs El-Sayed (D); Texas: Paxton (R) vs Talarico (D); NH: Sununu (R) vs Pappas (D); Kansas: Marshall (R) vs Hamilton (D) |
| 6:30 AM 8:30pm ET | Arkansas | |
| 7:00 AM 9pm ET | Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Arizona, Colorado and more | Iowa: Hinson (R) vs Turek (D); Nebraska: Ricketts (R) vs Osborn (Ind) |
| 8:00 AM 10pm ET | Nevada, Utah, Montana | |
| 9:00 AM 11pm ET | California, Washington, most of Oregon | Many close House races; California counts slowly |
| 11:00 AM 1am ET | Alaska (last polls) | Alaska Senate: Sullivan (R) vs Peltola (D) |
Times based on 270toWin's 2026 poll closing schedule. In states split across time zones, the listed time is when most polls close.
When Will We Know Who Controls Congress?
It could be clear on Wednesday morning in Pakistan, or it could take several days. It depends on how close the races are and how fast each state counts:
- Fast counters: states like Florida usually report most of their votes within hours of polls closing.
- Slow counters: states with lots of mail-in ballots, such as California, take longer because every mail ballot's signature must be checked and the ballot removed from its envelope. In 2024, California still had a large share of votes uncounted by midday the day after the election.
- Big turnout: Votebeat expects more than 100 million ballots, and early voting has broken records in several states, including Texas and Georgia, according to local reports.
- Late ballots: overseas and provisional ballots are counted later, and no result is official until it is certified, usually weeks after Election Day.
Races That Could Be Slow to Call
- Georgia: if no Senate candidate wins more than 50%, the race goes to a runoff on December 1.
- Maine and Alaska: both use ranked-choice voting, so if no candidate wins a majority, counting the next preferences can take days.
- Alaska: a legal dispute over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot could also delay the result.
- California and the West: many close House races are in states that count slowly, which could delay a final verdict on the House.
What Each Party Needs to Win
Republicans currently hold the House 218 to 214 and the Senate 53 to 47. Democrats need a net gain of about three House seats and four Senate seats to take control. Polls show Democrats ahead by around 8 to 9 points on the generic ballot, but several Senate races are within the margin of error. Read our full preview: US Midterms 2026: Can Trump Keep Congress?
Why does it matter beyond America? Trump has said he will decide on new strikes against Iran or a deal after the vote. Read: Iran War Today and Trump Cancels Rallies Days Before the Midterms.
How to Follow the Results from Pakistan
- 4am to 6am PKT: watch Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio for early signs of how the night is going.
- 6am to 7am PKT: the biggest batch of results, including Maine, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania.
- Morning in Pakistan: Iowa, Nebraska and the western states report. Control of the Senate may become clear.
- Afternoon and beyond: close House races in California and any ranked-choice counts in Maine and Alaska.
We will update War Signals Insight with the latest results throughout Wednesday, November 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do US polls close in Pakistan?
The first US polls close at 4am Pakistan time on Wednesday, November 4. Most states close between 5am and 9am, and the last polls in Alaska close at 11am.
When will the 2026 midterm results be known?
Some races will be called within hours, but close Senate and House races could take days. Votebeat says it is likely that some key results will not be known by the morning after Election Day.
What time difference is there between Pakistan and the US East Coast on Election Day?
After US clocks change on November 1, Pakistan is 10 hours ahead of US Eastern time.
Which states count votes slowly?
States with many mail-in ballots, such as California, count more slowly because each mail ballot must be verified. Maine and Alaska use ranked-choice voting, which can add days if no candidate wins a majority.
What happens if the Georgia Senate race is close?
If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, Georgia holds a runoff election on December 1.
Last updated: October 31, 2026. This page will be updated with live results on election night.
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