The eyes of the world will be locked on the United States this week as the 2024 presidential election reaches its climax. After a tight and often bitter campaign, Democratic incumbent Kamala Harris and Republican challenger Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in the polls. For Australians eager to follow every twist and turn, here’s your essential armchair guide to America’s election night.
When is Election Day in Australian Time?
Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday, November 5th – but thanks to the time difference, most of the action will unfold on Wednesday, November 6th for Australian observers. Voting booths in the US will start closing from 6pm Eastern Time, which translates to 10am AEDT, 9am in Queensland, 9:30am in South Australia and a bright and early 7am in WA.
Key Poll Closing Times to Watch
While voting will continue into the night in some states, the first major wave of poll closings will tell us a lot:
- 7pm ET (11am AEDT): Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia
- 7:30pm ET (11:30am AEDT): North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia
- 8pm ET (12pm AEDT): Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington DC
By 8pm Eastern, over 20 states will have finished voting, including the crucial battlegrounds of Florida and Pennsylvania. An hour later, polls will close in the key Midwest states of Michigan and Wisconsin.
When Will We Know the Winner?
Definitive results could be known by the time the last ballots are cast in Alaska at 1am Eastern Time – 5pm on the Australian east coast. However, if the race is as tight as many predict, the winner may not be called for hours, even days afterwards.
In 2020 it took four nail-biting days after polls closed for Joe Biden to be declared the victor over Donald Trump. We could be in for another long wait this year.
– US politics expert Dr Simon Jackman
How to Watch the Election Live in Australia
Australian TV networks are offering wall-to-wall coverage of the US election, with Channel 7, 9, 10, ABC and SBS all broadcasting live from the early hours of Wednesday morning.
For those after an international perspective, BBC World News and CNN International will have rolling updates, while US broadcasters NBC, ABC America and CBS will be available via pay TV or streaming.
Online and Social Media Coverage
If you’ll be at the office or on the go on November 6th, you can still stay on top of every development via the web and social media:
- Major Australian news sites including abc.net.au, news.com.au, 9news.com.au and theguardian.com/au will have live blogs, analysis and results.
- On YouTube, channels like NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News will live stream their TV coverage.
- Facebook and Twitter will be abuzz with posts from media outlets, pundits and everyday Americans following the vote count. Watch for trending hashtags like #Election2024 and #ElectionNight
Election Watch Parties Across Australia
For those keen to experience the drama with other political junkies, US election watch parties are being held in capital cities across Australia. The US consulate will host an event in Sydney, while universities and hotels from Perth to Brisbane will also open their doors for results viewing.
At our Adelaide watch party, we’re expecting over 200 people, from dual US-Australian citizens to local students and anyone fascinated by American politics. The atmosphere will be electric.
– Jen Smith, Adelaide University American Club president
No matter where or how you choose to follow the 2024 election, one thing is for sure – it promises to be a historic day for the United States and a gripping spectacle for observers in Australia and around the globe. Will the first female president win a second term, or will a controversial former leader stage a stunning comeback? The world will be watching.
