DC Area Voters Cast Ballots on Election Day

Voters across Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia went to polls on November 3, 2026, with some lining up before dawn.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a lone wooden ballot box in an empty hall, lit by pale morning light from a doorway. — Voters across Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia cast in-person ballots on November 3, 2026, with some lining up before dawn. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Voters in the Washington, D.C. area cast ballots in person on Election Day, November 3, 2026. Polls in Maryland opened at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., while Virginia polls close at 7 p.m. and D.C. polls close at 8 p.m.

Why it matters

Voting across the D.C. region on Election Day determines local leadership, and some voters said they cast ballots to change the direction of that leadership. Others said they voted to express concern about civility and the direction of the country.

Election Day reporting covered polling hours across three jurisdictions, with Maryland polls opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 8 p.m., Virginia closing at 7 p.m., and D.C. closing at 8 p.m. No turnout totals or results were available in the source material.

The details

Voters cast ballots in person at polling locations, including Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Maryland and City Hall in College Park, Maryland. Lines formed at D.C. polling sites starting at 7 a.m., and one voter who recently moved from Pennsylvania cast a ballot in Virginia for the first time.

November 3, 2026, 7 a.m.: Maryland polls open and D.C. voters begin lining up.
November 3, 2026, 7 p.m.: Virginia polls close.
November 3, 2026, 8 p.m.: Maryland and D.C. polls close.

Political Context

Polling hours in Maryland, Virginia and D.C. are set by each jurisdiction's own election statutes, which is why closing times differ across the region on the same day. The Election Day activity reported here operates under those established schedules.

Voters who have not yet cast ballots must do so before their local polls close, which is 7 p.m. in Virginia and 8 p.m. in Maryland and D.C. Voters who recently moved should confirm their registration status with their new state before polls close.

The takeaway

Polling hours differ across the D.C. region, so voters should check the closing time for their own jurisdiction. Knowing when polls close helps voters plan their trip to the polls on Election Day.