The first votes from the Texas primary are expected to commence arriving at 8 p.m. ET, with most of the state’s polls closing at that time. However, voters in the western part of Texas, including El Paso, will have polls open until 9 p.m. ET due to the time difference.
Early Vote Reporting Trends
Vote reporting in Texas has historically been swift. In November 2024, over half of all votes were reported within the first hour of polls closing, largely due to the quick tabulation of early and mail-in ballots. By midnight, nearly 90% of the vote had been tallied, with extremely little remaining to be reported the following morning.
Elsewhere, the first results of the 2026 primary season will come from North Carolina, where all polls close at 7:30 p.m. ET. In November 2024, less than a fifth of the vote was reported by 8:30 p.m. In North Carolina, but that number rose to over half by 9:30 p.m., and more than 90% by midnight. Nearly all votes were reported by 2:30 a.m. ET.
Arkansas polls will close an hour after North Carolina, at 8:30 p.m. ET. In 2024, approximately a quarter of the vote was reported in the first hour, and more than 90% was reported by midnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the first votes be reported from Texas?
The first votes from the Texas primary are expected to be reported at 8 p.m. ET, when polls close in most of the state. Polls in the western part of Texas, including El Paso, close at 9 p.m. ET.
How quickly were votes reported in Texas in November 2024?
More than half of the vote in Texas was reported in the first hour in November 2024, and nearly 90% was reported by midnight.
When do polls close in North Carolina and Arkansas?
All polls in North Carolina close at 7:30 p.m. ET, and all polls in Arkansas close at 8:30 p.m. ET.
As primary election night unfolds, what factors do you think will most influence the speed and accuracy of vote reporting?
