WASHINGTON — Early voting has now concluded in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, but millions of residents still prefer to head to the polls on Election Day. If you are one of them, here's what you need to know before you head out the door.
When do polls open?
Polls open at 6 a.m. in Virginia, and at 7 a.m. in D.C. and Maryland.
What do I need to bring to vote in person?
Virginia is the only locality in the DMV that requires identification (see list of acceptable IDs) to be shown. If you forget your ID, though, don't give up — you can ask to sign an ID statement affirming your identity and still be given a regular ballot.
In D.C. and Maryland, if you've voted there before you should not be asked to show an ID. If it's your first time voting in the region, and you didn't provide an ID when registering, you may be asked to show identification. See acceptable offers in DC here and in Maryland here.
What's on the ballot?
Outside of the race for president between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, candidates and issues on the ballot will look different based on where you live. It's best to familiarize yourself with what you're voting on ahead of time.
When do polls close?
Polling locations close across Virginia by 7 p.m. but stay open until 8 p.m. in D.C. and Maryland.
Remember, as long as you're in line by the time polls close on Election Day, you can still cast your ballot.
When will we know the presidential election results?
Results from the presidential election won't start to filter in until the polls close. Maryland, Virginia and D.C. all run their own elections, and each does things a little differently.
How long it takes to declare a projected winner in the presidential race depends both on how tight the race is and how fast ballots are counted by states. In 2020, Joe Biden was declared the victor over Donald Trump the Saturday following Election Day, on Nov. 7. But in 2016, it was even faster. Trump was called as the projected winner in the wee hours of the morning the Wednesday following the election, on Nov. 9, despite losing the popular vote to Hilary Clinton. Both Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 wins were called before midnight on the actual Election Day.
You can track live election results throughout the night, and in coming days if necessary, right here on WUSA9.com and on our streaming app WUSA9+.