The Evening: Election night

Turnout looked strong, and voting ends in key swing states by 10 p.m. Eastern.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 5, 2024 By Matthew Cullen Good evening. Welcome to our special edition for Election Day. Polls close in key states by 10 p.m. Eastern Turnout today looked strong Plus, ways to take your mind off the election Voters outside a museum in Michigan.  Andrea Bruce for The New York Times A polarized nation votes Tens of millions of Americans went to the polls today to elect the next president. Some voters, particularly in the West, have a few more hours to cast their ballots. But soon, the dizzying and contentious race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will become an exercise in patience as votes are being counted. Here's the latest. No matter who wins, this election will make history. Harris, who began her campaign just over 100 days ago, would be the first woman ever elected to the country's highest office. Trump would be the second-ever president to serve nonconsecutive terms and the first to be elected after being convicted of a felony. "Both parties took risks in this election," my colleague Jess Bidgood, who writes the On Politics newsletter, told me. "My big question going into tonight is: Whose risk is going to pay off?" The latest polls suggested that either candidate could win. Harris, like more than 80 million others, voted early. Trump cast his ballot today in Florida and said this would likely be his last campaign. He will watch the returns at Mar-a-Lago, where Elon Musk plans to join him. The New York Times A guide to election night It will take multiple days to count all of the votes across the country. If the polls are right, it could be days before we know the next president. If they're wrong, a victor could be declared before you wake up tomorrow. Either way, we should by tonight have a good idea of how close the race is. The election will very likely be decided by the seven battleground states. Among those, polls close first in Georgia, at 7 p.m. Eastern, and then North Carolina, at 7:30 p.m. Both states are expected to report the vast majority of their ballots before midnight. If Harris is leading in either one, she will have multiple paths to victory. If Trump is leading in both, Harris will most likely need to take Pennsylvania to win. The Midwestern swing states, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, could be counting through the night and into tomorrow. My colleagues highlighted several counties that could provide some hints. If the race is so close that Arizona or Nevada prove decisive, it's unlikely that we will know the final result for at least a few days. Check out our detailed breakdown of when each state is expected to be called. "Things could get clearer as the night goes, but it's also possible that things could get more complicated," Jess said. "We may have to be really patient before we get clarity." If you're looking for live updates on the results, follow our results tracker. The Times will have 100 journalists breaking down everything we know. Prepare for the results: We asked analysts how Harris could pull off a victory. Here's what they said. We also asked how Trump could pull off a victory. Here's what they said. My colleague Astead Herndon talked to voters in a county that has proved to be a bellwether. In his final campaign rally, Trump used a crude remark to attack Representative Nancy Pelosi. Lina Khan, President Biden's antitrust warrior, has become an election hot topic. Four Opinion columnists discussed their hopes and fears for Election Day. Outside a polling place in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Eric Lee/The New York Times It's not just the presidential race While Harris and Trump attract the most attention, important down-ballot races are being held across the country. Control of the Senate will most likely be decided in the nine most competitive races. The House has dozens of close races, which will determine the party in power. Whoever is president will struggle to accomplish their goals if their opponents hold power in Congress. A handful of governor's races are expected to be competitive. The tightest race may be in New Hampshire, where the Republican candidate is better known, but the Democrat is hoping to be buoyed by support for abortion rights. In 10 other states, abortion is directly on the ballot. All 10 are considering whether to protect abortion access; Nebraska is also considering a stricter ban. Other ballot measures consider legalizing marijuana and public funding for private schools. Federal and state officials are monitoring threats Federal officials are bracing for an increase in efforts by foreign adversaries to undermine the election. So far, voting has gone relatively smoothly. The F.B.I. said in a statement today that it was aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, "many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains." Officials said none of the threats appeared to be credible. Other difficulties could arise if the losing candidate rejects the results of the election, as Trump did in 2020. It's possible, though unlikely, that the Supreme Court could get involved. Luckily, local officials have being preparing for emergencies you probably have never thought about. More top news Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, after disagreements over the prosecution of the war in Gaza. Russia: Western officials said that Moscow had been plotting to place incendiary devices on cargo planes in Europe and performed a test run this summer. Business: A nearly two-month strike at Boeing ended. Its new chief executive has a lot more problems to fix. Tech: In a policy shift, Meta will allow U.S. government agencies and contractors working on national security to use its A.I. for military purposes. Saudi Arabia: Wall Street titans and the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, courted each other last week at a confab sometimes called "Davos in the Desert." TIME TO UNWIND A screening in Manhattan last month. Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet for The New York Times 'Dinner in America' has a rare second chance The angsty rom-com "Dinner in America" debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020, but the low-budget film struggled to find distribution and was self-released in 2022 to mixed reviews and little buzz. The movie's fortunes have suddenly changed, thanks to an inexplicable bump in TikTok's algorithm that has turbo-blasted the movie and its catchy song, "Watermelon," to millions of users. Now, it's receiving a second chance in movie theaters. The New York Times Our holiday gift guide Believe it or not, the holidays are approaching. To help you get a head start on gift-giving, The Times and Wirecutter put together a Holiday Gift Guide. The list also includes helpful explanations from my colleagues about why they recommend the items as gifts. Joshua Spodek meditates while he waits for his solar panel to charge. Meghan Marin for The New York Times Dinner table topics Living off the grid in Manhattan? It takes dedication, solar panels and probably putting dating on hold. The great Native American songbook: The musician Tim Long is creating a new body of vocal works by Native American composers. Gaming a game show: An unemployed writer decided to study up on "The Price Is Right" in an attempt to win prizes. WHAT TO DO TONIGHT Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Cook: This baked polenta casserole makes a wonderful meatless centerpiece. Watch: Steve McQueen's latest film, "Blitz," recreates war-torn London. Read: Charles King's new book, "Every Valley," considers how Handel's masterpiece, "Messiah," was born. Dress: Wearing these pants is akin to carrying an "it" bag. Treat: Here's how to get rid of plantar warts. Design: Eliminating kitchen clutter has never been more stylish. Play: Here are today's Spelling Bee, Wordle and Mini Crossword. Find all of our games here. ONE LAST THING Edward Hopper's "Manhattan Bridge Loop."  Take a moment to breathe Election Day can be stressful. One way to ease anxiety is by taking a few minutes to focus on something enjoyable. Consider, for example, our 10-Minute Challenge. Taking part is simple: Sit down someplace comfortable and spend 10 uninterrupted minutes examining this 1928 Edward Hopper painting. The exercise may bring you calm on a chaotic day, and it can even improve your focus. Have a peaceful evening. Thanks for reading. I'll be back tomorrow. — Matthew Philip Pacheco was our photo editor today. We welcome your feedback. Write to us at evening@nytimes.com. Writer: Matthew Cullen Editorial Director: Adam Pasick Editors: Carole Landry, Whet Moser, Justin Porter, Jonathan Wolfe Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Evening from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Evening, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018