Years ago voters in CA would watch the returns from other states and since the CA polls were still open they would vote for the winning candidate...
They wanted to vote for the winner..
Ive always felt we needed the polls closed at the same time all over the US
In 2000 the biggest time zone problem was in the FL panhandle where the networks called the state for Gore and then thousands of potential Bush voters got out of line and went home.
When I lived in Alaska, Reagan had won while we were still at work. But I still voted.
I think you are right! I wish we closed all at the same time! I can remember times when it seemed to be a sure win, and many here in California didn’t go to vote then at all.