What Time Do Polls Close?

[liberalpragmatist]

I realize it's different in different states. So what I'm asking in this thread is this: Post the times of at least one state which you know the poll closing time and in the subject heading put the NAME(S) of the state(s). If you know too many states to fit into one subject heading line, just pick out a few, put them in the subject line and say, "etc."

Specifically, I'm looking for Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. My own belief is that if Kerry or Bush wins all 3, then even though neither has officially won, it's become quite clear quite early that they've won. My guess if Kerry wins 2 out of the 3 (most likely Pennsylvania and Florida) he's won.

So anybody got poll closing times? I know Indiana and Kentucky are most, closing at 6:00 (EST)

UPDATE: I found a nifty site that lists ALL the poll closing times:

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/G04/closing.phtml?format=mc

Here's a follow-up question: If Kerry is declared winner in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida by 9:00 PM, he's probably not yet president-elect, but it's damn-well certain. How would that reflect in media coverage? Would the pundits mention it? I'd guess, despite the media bs, they'd report it - they report when there's a horserace or when someone's whoopassing someone. No, they wouldn't outright declare Kerry the victor, but the talk would turn to "where did the Bush campaign go wrong," etc.

Here's hoping that neither Ohio nor Florida nor Pennsylvania falls into the less than 1% category, in which case no call is to be made according to new network rules - I want to see Kerry win early!

[demokatgurrl]

1. PA

Open 7:00 a.m., close 8:00 p.m.

[cheshire]

2. Ca. 6 am to 8 pm I'm not sure of morn. may be 7am.

[goclark]

15. CA: I think it is 7 am but let's verify that part

I asked the question about the California ending time and I was told that it ends at 8 PM.

The Representative from the County was addressing my next question"

What happens when it is 8 pm and there is a long line? His response was "At 8 pm a Representative will go out to the line and stand. No one may get in line behind the Representative. They will register anyone in the line by 8 PM."

He also encouraged people to sign up to watch the polls etc. Said there were not enough Voting Poll places. He said, and I'm sure he is right, "people are not as anxious to volunteer their homes as before."

We better really be ready folks.

[Dangeresque]

3. Georgia - 7pm

7am to 7pm

[hlthe2b]

4. Colorado 7AM to 7PM

deadline to request absentee ballot (postmark deadline) is 26 October
Early voting begins 18 October

[Longhorn]

5. Texas

7 p.m.

Most of Texas is in the Central Time Zone, except for far West Texas, mainly El Paso, which is in the Mountain Time Zone.

[DebJ]

6. And the Pennsylvania and Florida results could influence the

West Coast???

[RevolutionStartsNow]

8. Maybe, but...

unless someone's winning in a landslide, I think there are a lot of people like me who can't wait to cast their vote for Kerry and won't pass up the opportunity for anything.

[cheshire]

9. If everyone in the west doesn't think their vote counts we would be lose.

[cally]

10. We didn't know the results before

our closing time of 8pm. Well, some internet sites were reporting results (DU) but the local and national news were not. It's always a concern on the west coast if results are leaked early. Many voters don't go to the polls and even if the Pres. race is not impacted, many local races are.

[DaveinMD]

7. Maryland

closes at 8 pm. They open at 7 am.

[napi21]

11. How did Md. pull that off? Every poll that I know of closes at 7PM.

Of course it's local time, so you have a three hour span between east and west coast, but I've not heard of any polling place that didn't abide by the 7PM time without some extraordinary circumstances, like weather, or equipment trouble.

[DebJ]

12. see post regarding PA above- closing at 8 pm

[ISUGRADIA]

13. Iowa 9 PM CST, Minnesota 8 PM CST

[Kal Belgarion]

14. NY closes at 9pm, IIRC

[KBlagburn]

16. Alabama

0700 - 1900

[jayctravis]

17. Illinois!

6am-7pm

Got a nifty quad-fold brochure, "MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS" showing how to fill in the oval. Especially:

"Voters will get a second chance to mark a new ballot if an error is detected by the tabulator."

Marginal mark or blank ballot will allow you to return and fill in the ovals. In case of overvote, turn in the ballot and receive a new ballot, return to the booth to mark the new ballot. If you choose to have the ballot counted, no vote is recorded where overvote occurs, but other sections will count....

"BILL OF RIGHTS FOR ALL VOTERS"

You have a right to:
Cast your ballot in a non-disruptive atmosphere free of interference.
Vote if you are in line by 7pm.
Vote by affidavit if your registration is mistakenly challenged
Vote at your old polling place if you have moved within 30 days of the election.
Request assistance in voting if needed.
Bring newspaper endorsements or sample ballots into the voting booth.
Protect the secrecy of your ballot
Receive a new ballot if you make a mistake or change your mind.
Screen your ballot after voting to ensure it is complete and correct.
Have your ballot counted fairly and impartially.