The polls will no longer matter on Tuesday evening. The only numbers that will be emphasized are those from the ballots. And while the coverage will be extensive, there are still many questions from Americans waiting for results.

Some 80 million votes have already been cast, with tens of millions more to be cast today. But in the end, it could all come down to the results of seven swing states.

Whether you support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, we have the answers you need.

When do the polling stations close and when will the first result forecasts for the 2024 elections be made?

The first polls close in Kentucky at 6pm ET – so the first projections, based on exit polls, could come soon after. Georgia and Virginia close voting at 7:00 PM ET, but it’s more likely we’ll see projections from Virginia since Georgia is one of the swing states and will likely be a later decision.

North Carolina (another swing state) and Ohio close their polls at 7:30 PM ET. By 8:00 PM ET, it is likely that the expected victories will be achieved in several East Coast states.

More Western states are closing their polls at 9:00 PM ET and 10:00 PM ET, with California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii all reporting their first results at 11:00 PM or later.

When will the votes from the swing states be known?

That’s a more complex question. The Harris campaign says it expects results from three swing states — Georgia, Michigan and North Carolina — on election night, and Georgia has said it expects results by midnight tonight. Wisconsin’s results should be tallied Wednesday morning.

Arizona and Nevada will likely take a day or two longer. And Pennsylvania, perhaps the most important state, could also take a while.

How long will it take Associated press and networking to announce a state’s results in the 2024 presidential election?

There is no set time for how long it takes for AP to call a victory for a candidate. Based on the 2020 results, we can make some estimates.

Four years ago, AP made a one-hour projection for 31 states. Within a day, another fifteen were called. Swing states lasted five days or more, but votes are expected to be counted a little faster this year.

Can I watch the 2024 election results for free if I don’t have cable?

Yes, easy. All major networks, along with PBS, will have wall-to-wall coverage of the election results. You can watch them with an over-the-air antenna. Just be sure to test the equipment in multiple locations in your home to find the most reliable signal.

How can I stream the 2024 election results if I don’t have a cable subscription?

You don’t have that unlimited options, but it’s pretty close.

Disney+

Disney’s Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ bundle no longer has a free trial, so you’ll have to pay $17 per month for all three together (or $30 per month if there are no ads on Hulu).

If you include Live TV in the bundle, which you need to watch election coverage, the price rises to $77 per month ($90 without ads).

Hulu with live TV

The free trial of this service is also no longer offered. It will now cost you $77 per month.

Max

The former HBO Max, owned by CNN’s parent company, will provide live coverage of the election. Subscriptions start at $10 per month.

YouTubeTV

After a trial period of up to two weeks, you can expect to pay monthly fees of $73.

Sling TV

Dish Network’s Sling lower “Orange” plan will run you $40 per month. Adding the more comprehensive ‘Blue’ plan increases the cost to $55 per month. The seven-day free trial is gone, but the cord-cutting service offers a 50% discount on the first month’s bill.

DirectTV stream

Formerly known as DirecTV Now, AT&T TVNow, and AT&T TV, this oft-renamed streaming service will cost you $80 per month and more after the free trial option.

Fubo TV

This sports-focused cord-cutting service serves broadcast networks in most markets. There’s a seven-day free trial, followed by monthly fees of $80 and up, depending on the channels you choose.

Are there other ways to monitor election results?

It may be harder to escape election coverage than to find it in this connected world. Other options that try to keep you informed include:

Apple devices

Starting late Tuesday, Apple will keep users informed of developments through the Live Activity feature on newer iPhones and iPads. The feature appears on your lock screen so you always have updates. If your device has a Dynamic Island, you can also track the results with that. You can enable this feature via Apple News. Just click ‘Watch the 2024 Elections Live’ or open the 2024 Elections tab and turn on notifications.

DirectTV

The satellite TV service will include live feeds from FOX News, CNN, MSNBC and NewsMax, along with detailed statistics such as Senate and House of Representatives breakdowns by party and AP-powered presidential projections by state on “Elections Headquarters,” located on channels 71 and 200.

Amazon Prime

Former NBC stalwart Brian Williams will provide coverage starting at 5:00 PM ET on Amazon Prime Video. (The channel will be free to everyone, whether they’re a Prime member or not.) He’ll be joined by a variety of guests and contributors and could watch Williams on air for up to seven or eight hours — perhaps more if the race is on too close to call.

LG televisions

The manufacturer has launched a “News Hub” on LG Channels, a free streaming series of channels. From there, viewers can watch local and national newscasts from stations like ABC News Live, CNN Headlines, FOX’s LiveNOW, NBC News NOW, Scripps News and more.

BBC

Get an international perspective on the US elections starting at 5:40 PM ET. The BBC News channel is available on cable TV in the US and can be accessed 24 hours a day as a live stream on BBC.com and the app and on the major FAST/CTV platforms.

Track the results, understand the impact. Read all our US election coverage here.