What's HappeningElectionYour Guide to Election NightWhat's going on: The day we’ve all been waiting for is here. Election Day will likely be unpredictable, but here’s what to expect: When will we know who won?: That’s the million-dollar question. In 2020, it took about four days for the Associated Press (theSkimm’s source for election results) to call the race. With fewer people voting early in-person or by mail this time, states may count votes faster. However, in swing states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where mail ballots aren’t counted until Election Day, it could take days. If the race is tight (as predicted), that could further delay the final outcome — though some analysts say there’s the possibility one candidate could win by a wide margin. What to look out for: Six states will be the first to close their polls at 7 pm EST. This includes Georgia, where the secretary of state told CNN that 70% of votes will likely be tallied by 8 pm EST. North Carolina could also finalize its results tonight. Both are key states, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be indicative of a national trend. That’s partly because of red and blue “mirages” — when one candidate appears to lead early in the night before all votes are counted. In other states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada, it could take days to declare a winner. Other states to keep an eye on include Iowa, where VP Kamala Harris recently took the lead in a surprising poll, and New Hampshire and New Mexico, where former President Donald Trump could pull off an upset. What else is at stake: Control of Congress and abortion rights. Republicans are positioned to take the Senate. Control of the House remains a tossup, and one political analyst told The New York Times that we likely won’t know the outcome tonight. Voters in 10 states will also weigh in on adding abortion rights to their state constitutions. What it means: For voters on both sides, the stakes feel unusually high, with many seeing the results as crucial to the future of American democracy. Since the 2020 election, a series of events have deepened political divides, including the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, two assassination attempts, and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. As tens of millions of Americans cast their ballots today, many worry about the potential for post-election violence. Some political analysts warn that tensions could escalate once the results are in — fueled in part by Trump’s baseless efforts to cast doubt on the results ahead of Election Day. States like Nevada and Washington are beefing up security as a precaution. Related: Take the Edge Off Tonight With an Election-Night Bingo Game (NYT Gift Link) | 