The 2024 election is finally underway with early voting underway across the country. But when do we find out who our new president will be? We’ve got you covered on how to watch the election results, whether you have cable TV or not.
This election year has been one for the books. First, Donald Trump became the first impeached former president to run for office — and the first ex-president to be convicted of felony charges. Second, President Joe Biden resigned from the race. Lastly, Vice President Kamala Harris became the first Black woman and first Asian woman to become the official Democratic nominee.
Now, we’re down to the wire. But first and foremost, it’s important to remember that because of the influx of mail-in ballots, votes can still roll in after polls have closed, so you probably won’t find out who the winner is on election night. Because of this, it’s best not to read too much into early projections and to take a deep breath until a majority of the votes are counted. As The New York Times wrote back in 2020, “the keywords here are patience and caution. Do not expect states to be called quickly, and do not draw conclusions from partial results, which are likely to be misleading.”
According to 270 To Win, polls will begin to close at 6 p.m. EST and continue until Alaska’s voting locations shutter at 1 a.m. EST. Some polling places close earlier, so be sure to check your polling site hours of operation day-of.
Official election results will be posted by the Federal Election Committee, not presidential campaigns or social media. Back in 2020, Trump tweeted that he was “leading” the vote the day after the election until “surprise ballot dumps” took his lead away. This was a false statement that many believed to be true. He also claimed that he won the election earlier that night, which was also inaccurate.
With these disclaimers in mind, we break down exactly how to watch the election unfold in real time below.
How to watch the election on cable
What time is the election on TV? News networks like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News have already started their election day coverage with real-time analysis provided by their respective political correspondents. The traditional breaking news reports calling different results will begin later in the evening after polls begin to close. Big networks like NBC, ABC News, and CBS will also be airing coverage during primetime in addition to their online streams.
How to watch if you don’t have cable
You don’t need cable TV to watch the election results live. Networks like CNN are streaming their coverage online with no cable login required. During the 2020 election, CBS News streamed their election coverage for free on YouTube and will most likely be doing so again. Prime Video will be streaming election night coverage with anchor Brian Williams set to lead the live news event. You can also sign up for free trials of services like Peacock, YouTube TV, Sling, PlayStation Vue, FuboTV, and more for the live TV experience sans the commitment (just don’t forget to cancel).
Live-streams and live-blogs are an easy way to watch election night results without cable. The Washington Post is streaming their Post Live Election Daily show and updating their live-blog throughout the day. The Associated Press will also be updating their live coverage throughout the day and offering a digital livestream of results and electoral college map updates. If you’re taking a long road trip the day of the election and want to listen to the radio as the results come in, NPR is hosting coverage on its site and app. If you want to laugh through the pain, Stephen Colbert is hosting an election night special.
Sites like X are a great source of live stream updates from news outlets — just make sure you’re doing your due diligence and not believing parody or fake accounts. Just because an account has a blue verified checkmark does not mean they’re reputable. Anyone can buy verified status now on the platform. The same goes for TikTok, where there will be plenty of videos sharing election information. Be sure to fact check anything you see and don’t take it at face value.
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