Ready for Here are a few tips on what to watch — and when.
First, don't waste Election Day watching cable news. Until actual votes come in, there won't be much news to report, just hours of mind-numbing speculation from pundits repeating what they’ve been saying for weeks.
5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Central Time: At 5 p.m., states with the earliest poll closings, such as Indiana and Kentucky, will provide scattered results. At 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., states with big races will start reporting. Some states have partial poll closings reflecting multiple time zones.
Georgia: The governor's race between Republican Rick Jackson and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms is the nation's most interesting. For Senate, Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff is expected to win a second term — and then maybe run for president.
South Carolina: The Senate race could be an important national indicator. Republican Sen. Darline Graham is favored, but it’s close. If Democrat Annie Andrews pulls off an upset, it would signal a Democratic wave and a bad night for President Donald Trump.
7 p.m. Central Time: Polls close in Maine and much of Michigan, Texas and Kansas. A Democratic sweep of Senate races in these four states could lock up a Senate majority.
Texas: The battle between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is the nation's marquee Senate contest. A Talarico victory would be a major blow to Trump and Elon Musk, considering how much time and money they’ve invested on behalf of Paxton.
Michigan: This open Senate seat ranks high in national attention. A victory by Democrat Abdul El-Sayed would be a major triumph for his party's left wing. A win by Republican Mike Rogers would deliver a stinging defeat to that same faction.
Maine: Few are eager to predict this state’s Senate race between GOP incumbent Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson. The polls are tight and six years ago they were wrong.
Kansas: Normally a Republican bastion, this state has a surprisingly competitive Senate match. Republican incumbent Roger Marshall has struggled to establish a lead, while Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton has impressed centrist voters.
Mississippi: Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is likely to be reelected, but the race has attracted national interest. If core Democratic constituencies turn out in record numbers in this red state, Democrats believe their candidate, Scott Colom, could make it close.
8 p.m. Central Time: Early results come into focus as more states start reporting.
The main attraction is the Senate race between Republican Julia Letlow and Democrat Jamie Davis. Letlow is favored, but politicos believe her lead is narrowing. Two open House races and 10 constitutional amendments are also drawing attention.
Iowa: Republican Ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek are locked in a close Senate battle. In the governor’s race, Democrat Rob Sand has been leading in the polls. Democratic victories in a state Trump carried three times by wide margins would amount to a striking vote of no confidence in the president's policies.
Nebraska: Independent Dan Osborn, backed by Democrats, may have a shot at defeating Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts. An Osborn victory would provide a new playbook for challenging a state's dominant party with an independent candidacy.
9 p.m. Central Time: Polls in five more states close. Results will be pouring in, making it harder to keep track. But hang in; big races will soon start to gel.
10 p.m. to midnight Central Time: More states close their polls — including California at 10 and most of Alaska, which has important Senate and gubernatorial races, at 11.
By this point, it’s all over but the shouting. But the shouting, especially in places with tight-as-a-tick elections, could last for a long, long time.