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 based on past elections. Any significant extension of voting hours at any location in the state will affect these times. Reporting times will vary by county.

  • 7:30 p.m. polls close.**

  • 7:30 p.m.~8:30 p.m. early votes are reported.

    • One-stop 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.

  • 7:30 p.m.~9:30 p.m. precinct officials hand-deliver results to CBEs.

  • 8:30 p.m.~1 a.m. precinct results are reported.

  • After Election Night

    • Absentee ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day and 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 are interrupted for more than 15 minutes after opening. The State Board may extend the closing time by an equal number of minutes. (N.C.G.S. § 163-166.01.)

If hours are extended by at least 15 minutes…

  • Reporting in the affected county is then delayed by the number of minutes polling place was extended.