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Your Hour-by-Hour Guide to Election Night

What to watch for as the clock ticks on

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 4, 2008 12:28 PM CST

(Newser) – Tonight’s election promises to end before bedtime, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be drama. Nate Silver breaks down which polls close when, and what to watch for.

  • 6pm: Indiana and Kentucky: Usually these get called red right away, but this year Indiana is a toss-up.
  • 7pm: Virginia, Georgia, and most of Florida and New Hampshire: We’ll get an idea how accurate polls are; Virginia is extremely important

  • 7:30pm: Ohio and North Carolina: Early voting favors Obama.
  • 8pm: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Missouri: Watch carefully; early results in these states are deceiving.
  • 9pm: Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Minnesota: Colorado is the key here for Obama.
  • 10pm: Nevada, Iowa, Montana, and New York: The earliest point at which the race might be called for Obama.
  • 11pm: California, Oregon, and Washington: Nothing to see here, folks, except Proposition 8.

Election poll worker Barb Slobe, right, helps a voter during the general election in Victory, NY, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.
Election poll worker Barb Slobe, right, helps a voter during the general election in Victory, NY, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli)
There will be much to watch all night, particularly if you care about the Senate races.
There will be much to watch all night, particularly if you care about the Senate races.   (Shutterstock)
Map shows 2004 presidential election results.
Map shows 2004 presidential election results.
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