Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris: When will India come to know of the US election outcome?

The United States presidential election is set for November 5, with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump in a tight race, according to recent polling data. Over 41 million Americans have already participated in early voting before Election Day. This election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history.

Americans will cast their votes on Tuesday, November 5, adhering to the US Constitution, which mandates voting on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The winner will assume office on January 20, 2025, for a four-year term.

Vote counting will begin on November 5, but it may take several days to confirm the next president. Media outlets typically declare a winner on election night or the following day based on data analysis.


Polling hours vary by state, but most polling stations will be open from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm local time (around 4:30 pm IST to 6:30 am IST on November 6). Exit polling to gauge voter sentiment will start after 5:00 pm EST (2:30 am IST on November 6).

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election. Votes are tallied once polling stations close, with different closing times across states. The east coast will begin counting before states such as Alaska and Hawaii finish voting. News organizations will share state-specific data but will wait to officially announce a winner until all votes in that state are counted.

In clear outcomes, a winner may be announced within hours. In close elections, final results may take days or even weeks due to the vote-counting process and potential legal challenges.

The newly elected president will begin their term on January 20, 2025. The joint session of Congress will count and certify the electoral votes on January 6, 2025. Kamala Harris, as the sitting vice president, will preside over the count, similar to Vice President Mike Pence's role when Joe Biden was declared president-elect in January 2021. Each state will present its votes in alphabetical order during this ceremonial process.