[Spunky]

"Indiana Polls just closed about 20 minutes ago also."

Huh! How could that be. I think it is only 5:30 there in Indiana now. The latest it could be would be 6:30. Don't the polls stay open in all states until at least 8:00?

[Moose4]

Nope, it varies by state. Some states (KY, IN) close as early as 6:00 pm local time. Others stay open until 7:00 or 8:00.

You have to factor timezones into account too. One of the biggest reasons that Florida turned out the way it did in 2000 was that the networks called the state for Gore while the polls were still open in the Panhandle, which is on Central time--the polls statewide close at 7:00 pm LOCAL time. Thousands of Bush voters in the Panhandle heard the networks call the state for Gore, gave up and went home. Supposedly the networks are saying they're going to be more careful about doing that again...but I doubt it.

}:-)4

[steveegg]

Indiana and Kentucky polls both close at 6 pm local time. Since both states straddle 2 time zones (Eastern and Central), the western portions of the state have their polls open an hour longer (and I presume have their polls open an hour later) than those in the eastern portions of the state.

[bootyist-monk]

Indiana
Bush 7,543 55%
Kerry 6,085 44%

Kentucky
Bush 7,183 57%
Kerry 5,288 42%

Numbers as a few minutes ago per CSPAN. The count is underway.

[mhking]

Huh! How could that be. I think it is only 5:30 there in Indiana now. The latest it could be would be 6:30. Don't the polls stay open in all states until at least 8:00?

No, Indiana runs 6A-6P on their polls, rolling across both timezones.