You’ve probably been there before. It’s Tuesday afternoon, the air feels a bit heavy with anticipation, and you’re ready to hunker down with a bowl of snacks to watch the results roll in. But then you realize you have no idea when the actual show starts.
Does it start when the polls close? Or is there a pre-game show?
Honestly, it’s a bit of a moving target. If you’re looking for the short answer: election night coverage usually kicks off between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET, depending on which network you call home. But the "real" action—the stuff that actually changes the map from grey to red or blue—doesn't really hit its stride until much later.
The Early Birds: Streaming and Cable Preshows
Most of the big legacy networks—think ABC, CBS, and NBC—tend to save their heavy hitters for the 7 p.m. ET slot. That’s when the first major polls in states like Georgia and Virginia officially close. But if you’re a political junkie who needs information the second you wake up, the cable giants and streaming platforms have you covered way earlier.
CNN is usually the first out of the gate. In 2024, they actually started a version of "Election Day" coverage at midnight. By 4 p.m. ET, the "Election Night in America" branding officially takes over with the main anchors like Jake Tapper and Anderson Cooper.
👉 See also: Statesville NC Record and Landmark Obituaries: Finding What You Need
NBC News Now and ABC News Live often start their specialized streaming cycles in the early afternoon, sometimes as early as 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. ET. These are great if you want to see "man on the street" interviews and deep dives into exit polls before the actual numbers start leaking out.
When the Big Anchors Take the Desk
If you’re waiting for the "Main Event" feel, here is a general breakdown of when the primetime heavyweights usually clock in (all times Eastern):
- CNN: 4:00 PM (though they’re basically 24/7 that day)
- NBC News: 5:00 PM (started by Hallie Jackson before Lester Holt takes over at 6:30 PM)
- Fox News: 6:00 PM (Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum lead the charge)
- MSNBC: 6:00 PM (Rachel Maddow and the primetime team)
- ABC News: 7:00 PM (David Muir usually anchors the network broadcast)
- CBS News: 7:00 PM (Norah O’Donnell leads the headquarters team)
- PBS News: 7:00 PM (Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett)
It’s worth noting that while these are the "start" times, the first hour is mostly filler. You'll hear a lot of "it’s too early to tell" and "we’re looking at turnout in suburban counties." You won't see a single electoral vote assigned for a while.
The "Poll Closing" Rhythm
The coverage start time is basically a countdown to the poll closings. That’s the real heartbeat of the night.
✨ Don't miss: St. Joseph MO Weather Forecast: What Most People Get Wrong About Northwest Missouri Winters
Basically, the networks can't project a winner in a state until the polls in that state are officially closed. Even if they have data showing a landslide, there’s an industry-wide agreement not to "call" a state while people are still standing in line.
- 7:00 PM ET: This is the first "big" wave. Georgia is the one everyone watches here. If Georgia is called early, it's going to be a short night. If it stays "Too Close to Call" until 2 a.m., brew more coffee.
- 7:30 PM ET: North Carolina and Ohio join the party.
- 8:00 PM ET: A massive dump of states, including Pennsylvania. This is usually when the "Magic Walls" and "Big Boards" start looking like a chaotic Tetris game.
- 9:00 PM ET: New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
- 10:00 PM ET - 1:00 AM ET: The West Coast and Alaska/Hawaii.
The Steve Kornacki Factor
We have to talk about the "Map Men." Whether it's Steve Kornacki at MSNBC, John King at CNN, or Bill Hemmer at Fox, these guys have become the stars of the show. Their "coverage" technically starts when the main broadcast does, but they don't really get to do their thing until about 8:30 p.m. ET.
That’s when the "raw vote" starts trickling in.
There’s a common misconception that the percentage you see on screen is the "final" count. It’s not. It’s usually a mix of early mail-in ballots and Election Day in-person votes. Depending on the state's laws (looking at you, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin), these can be counted in different orders, leading to the "Red Mirage" or "Blue Shift" that confuses everyone every four years.
🔗 Read more: Snow This Weekend Boston: Why the Forecast Is Making Meteorologists Nervous
Where to Watch Without Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, you aren't stuck with just Twitter (X) refresh cycles.
- YouTube: Almost every major network streams their coverage for free on YouTube.
- Amazon Prime: Recently, they've started hosting their own independent coverage (Brian Williams hosted a massive 10-hour special in 2024).
- Ad-Free Options: C-SPAN is the gold standard if you hate pundits. They just show the results and the raw speeches without the "talking heads" telling you how to feel.
Why 2 a.m. is the New Midnight
In the "old days," we used to expect a winner by 11 p.m. ET. Those days are kinda over.
Because of the massive increase in mail-in voting and tighter margins in swing states, election night coverage now regularly stretches into "Election Week." Don't be surprised if the 7 p.m. start time leads to a 4 a.m. "we still don't know" update.
The networks have adapted to this. They now have "overnight" crews (like Trace Gallagher at Fox or the MSNBC early morning team) who take over the desk at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. while the main anchors get a few hours of sleep in their trailers.
Actionable Next Steps for Election Night
- Check your local listings: While the national networks start at 7 p.m., your local news likely has a "pre-game" at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. focusing on your specific state.
- Set up a Multi-View: If you have YouTube TV or Fubo, use the multi-window feature to watch CNN, Fox, and MSNBC simultaneously. It's the only way to see the different "realities" being projected in real-time.
- Keep a Poll Closing Schedule handy: Don't just watch the clock; watch the states. Knowing that Pennsylvania closes at 8 p.m. helps you ignore the noise before then.
- Download the AP News App: The Associated Press is the "gold standard" for calls. Most networks actually wait for the AP to call a race before they turn a state red or blue on their own maps.
Coverage starts early, but the finish line is usually much further away than the networks want you to think. Grab your charger, keep your phone handy, and maybe don't plan on an early start Wednesday morning.