Polls Close in 2026 Midterm Elections
North Carolina extends voting hours at five precincts in four counties after voting delays, with polls scheduled to close at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Elections
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Polls began closing in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections on November 3, 2026. The North Carolina State Board of Elections extended voting hours at five precincts in four counties due to issues that resulted in voting delays.
Why it matters
Election officials cannot release results while voting continues in affected districts, so North Carolina will not publish unofficial results until all polls are closed. Democrats hope to win a majority in both the House and Senate.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections extended voting hours at five precincts across four counties, while the first state results are expected to post around 8:15 p.m. ET. The source does not specify how long the extensions will run at each affected site.
The players
Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott is the incumbent Republican governor of Texas, seeking reelection in the 2026 midterm elections.
Mark Kelly
Mark Kelly is a Democratic U.S. senator from Arizona who has listed reducing fuel costs, changing tariff policy, and expanding Medicaid coverage among his priorities.
North Carolina State Board of Elections
The North Carolina State Board of Elections oversees election administration in the state and extended voting hours at five precincts in four counties.
The details
The North Carolina State Board of Elections extended voting hours at five precincts in four counties after issues caused voting delays at polling sites. Officials will withhold unofficial results in the state until every poll has closed, including those where hours were extended.
Timeline
November 3, 2026, 7:00 p.m. local time: Texas polls close, with a deadline for Republican voters to cast ballots.
November 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m. ET: Scheduled poll closing time in North Carolina.
November 3, 2026, around 8:15 p.m. ET: Expected posting of first North Carolina results.
Election Context
Midterm elections are held every two years, when all 435 House seats and roughly one-third of Senate seats are contested. This year's contests will determine whether Democrats win a majority in either chamber of Congress.
Voters in the affected North Carolina precincts had extra time to cast ballots after delays at polling sites. Anyone waiting on unofficial results in the state will need to wait until all polls, including the extended ones, have closed.
The takeaway
Election-day delays can extend voting in specific precincts and push back when results are released, so voters in affected areas should check their polling place's closing time before heading out.
What happens next
First North Carolina results are expected to be posted around 8:15 p.m. ET on November 3, 2026, once polling has closed.
Further reading
Follow the latest coverage of elections for context on how these midterm races are shaping up nationwide.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC News.
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