What time will the presidency be decided? After months of Republican candidate Donald Trump‘s controversial remarks and controversy over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton‘s emails, the end of this long and divisive campaign is finally near.
In the past, the call times when the winner is announced have varied. In the 1980s and 1990s, the call times were 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. E.T., but the last three elections have gone on well into the evening, with the results called between 11 and 11:30 p.m. ET.
The final national polls gave Clinton a four-point lead against Trump. According to the New York Times, the former Secretary of State will win the presidency if she triumphs in Florida or North Carolina, states worth 29 and 15 votes in the Electoral College.
The number of electoral college votes needed to win is 270.
The race is tight for both candidates in Florida and North Carolina though, given the states’ polarized voters.
As of 10:48 p.m. ET, Trump was leading with 136 and Clinton with 104 electoral votes. Trump is leading with Florida and Ohio, and narrowly leading in Georgia, North Carolina and Michigan, while Clinton leads Virginia. New Hampshire is close, but Trump currently maintains the lead. (Voting was extended in North Carolina after computer issues.)
Trump also has the potential to win if he can break through Clinton’s so-called “firewall” states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico and New Hampshire. The call might lead well into the night if Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota are close. (In 2004, it was early the next morning when Minnesota and Michigan were called.)
Texas, Nevada and Iowa are generally safe Republican territory, while Clinton will likely take California.
According to CNN, the U.S. popular vote has Trump favored at 49% and 47% for Clinton.
Poll Closing Times for Key States:
7 p.m. ET: Florida, Virginia
7:30 p.m. ET: North Carolina, Ohio
8 p.m. ET: Michigan, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
9 p.m. ET: Arizona, Colorado, Wisconsin
10 p.m. ET: Iowa, Nevada
