If you’re watching tonight’s midterm results, South Carolina should start reporting first — shortly after 7 p.m.
North Carolina follows about 30 minutes later, with some of the biggest batches of votes expected between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. By late evening, many Charlotte-area races could have a clear picture. Close contests could take much longer.
Here’s what voters across both Carolinas should expect.
South Carolina Results Start After 7 P.M.
South Carolina polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Anyone already in line at 7 p.m. can still vote.
The South Carolina Election Commission says unofficial results will begin appearing after polls close as counties report their totals. Early voting, absentee and Election Day ballots are included in election-night results.
That means voters in York, Lancaster and Chester counties could begin seeing results shortly after 7 p.m.
Results will continue changing throughout the evening as additional precincts report.
South Carolina does not make those numbers official Tuesday night.
County election boards will review provisional ballots and certify results on Friday, Nov. 6. Statewide and multicounty races are scheduled for final state certification on Nov. 11.
North Carolina Starts About 30 Minutes Later
North Carolina polls remain open until 7:30 p.m.
The first numbers could be significant because counties are expected to report absentee and early-voting ballots near the beginning of the night.
According to the State Board of Elections:
- 7:30-9 p.m. — absentee-by-mail results begin reporting
- 7:30-9:30 p.m. — early-voting totals arrive
- 8:30 p.m.-midnight — Election Day precinct results increasingly appear
The state’s results dashboard is expected to refresh every five to 10 minutes.
For Mecklenburg, Union, Gaston, Cabarrus and other Charlotte-area counties, that means substantial vote totals could appear relatively early.
But early results should not automatically be treated as a prediction of the final outcome. Different counties and voting methods can favor different candidates, and Election Day precincts arrive at different speeds.
By 9 P.M., The Picture Should Be Much Clearer
The most informative stretch will likely come between 8 and 10 p.m.
By then, South Carolina should have been reporting for several hours, while North Carolina should have released most early-voting totals and begun adding large numbers of Election Day precincts.
North Carolina officials expect precinct results to continue arriving through midnight. Any polling-place extension could also delay reporting within an affected county.
Very close races may remain unsettled after everyone goes to bed.
North Carolina can still add eligible provisional ballots, cured absentee ballots and certain military and overseas ballots during the post-election canvass.
Election Night Results Aren’t Official
North Carolina county boards will certify results on Nov. 13 after audits and reviews of remaining eligible ballots.
The State Board is scheduled to certify statewide and multicounty contests on Nov. 24.
South Carolina moves faster, with county certification scheduled for Nov. 6 and state certification Nov. 11.
For people simply trying to follow who is winning tonight, however, the timeline is much simpler:
South Carolina starts around 7 p.m. North Carolina starts around 7:30 p.m. And between roughly 8 and 10 p.m., the Carolinas’ midterm picture should begin coming into focus.
