Election Night Reporting Timeline

Overview

The information below is a rough timeline of the expected reporting of unofficial election night results. These times are approximate and will vary by county. Any significant extension of voting hours at any location in the state will affect these times.

  • 7:30 p.m. polls close.*
  • 7:30 p.m.~9 p.m. absentee-by-mail votes that have been approved by a county board of elections are reported in the Results File (aka the “Media File”) and on the Election Results Dashboard.
  • 8 p.m.~9:30 p.m. early voting results are reported.
    • In-person early votes and absentee by-mail votes that have been approved by a county board of elections (CBE) are reported in the Results File (aka the “Media File”) and on the Election Results Dashboard.
    • Data refresh every 5~10 minutes.
  • 8 p.m.~9:30 p.m. precinct officials hand-deliver results to CBEs.
  • 8:30 p.m.~midnight precinct results are reported.
    • Results appear in the Results File and on the Election Results Dashboard.
    • Data refresh every 5~10 minutes.
  • After election night:
    • Military and overseas absentee ballots that are received by the county board of elections by the return deadline, as well as provisional votes, will be added to the results as they are approved by CBEs during the canvass period after election night.

*Under state law, the State Board, by a majority vote, may extend voting hours at a polling place if polls are delayed in opening for more than 15 minutes or if voting is interrupted for more than 15 minutes after opening. The State Board may extend the closing time of affected polling places only by an equal number of minutes. (Hours for voting (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.25))

If hours are extended, then results reporting will be delayed in that county until all polling places are closed.