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2002 Poll Closing Times
Primary Elections Chronologically

5 November Midterm Election Chronologically
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Primary Elections Chronologically

Copyright www.flags.net/UNST.htm UTC Eastern Central Mountain Pacific Alaska Hawaii
Tuesday 5 March 2002
California - Primary0400
UTC
11:00p
EST
10:00p
CST
9:00p
MST
8:00p
PST
7:00p
AKST
6:00p
ALST
6:00p
HIST
Tuesday 12 March 2002
Texas - Primary (CST) *20100
UTC
8:00p
EST
7:00p
CST
6:00p
MST
5:00p
PST
4:00p
AKST
3:00p
ALST
3:00p
HIST
Texas - Primary (MST) *20200
UTC
9:00p
EST
8:00p
CST
7:00p
MST
6:00p
PST
5:00p
AKST
4:00p
ALST
4:00p
HIST
Tuesday 19 March 2002
Illinois - Primary0100
UTC
8:00p
EST
7:00p
CST
6:00p
MST
5:00p
PST
4:00p
AKST
3:00p
ALST
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 9 April 2002
Texas - Runoff Primary (Senate-Dem, CDs 25-Dem, 26-Rep, 31-Rep) (CDT) *20000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Texas - Runoff Primary (Senate-Dem, CDs 25-Dem, 26-Rep, 31-Rep) (MDT) *20100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT

6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 7 May 2002
Indiana - Primary (EST) *12300
UTC
7:00p
EDT
6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Indiana - Primary (CDT) *12300
UTC
7:00p
EDT
6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Ohio - Primary2330
UTC
7:30p
EDT

6:30p
EST
6:30p
CDT
5:30p
MDT
4:30p
MST
4:30p
PDT
3:30p
AKDT
2:30p
ALDT
1:30p
HIST
Tuesday 14 May 2002
West Virginia - Primary2330
UTC
7:30p
EDT

6:30p
EST
6:30p
CDT
5:30p
MDT
4:30p
MST
4:30p
PDT
3:30p
AKDT
2:30p
ALDT
1:30p
HIST
Nebraska - Primary (CDT) *10100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT
6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Nebraska - Primary (MDT) *10100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT

6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 21 May 2002
Pennsylvania - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Arkansas - Primary0030
UTC
8:30p
EDT
7:30p
EST
7:30p
CDT
6:30p
MDT
5:30p
MST
5:30p
PDT
4:30p
AKDT
3:30p
ALDT
2:30p
HIST
Oregon - Primary (MDT) *20200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT

7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Oregon - Primary (PDT) *20300
UTC
11:00p
EDT
10:00p
EST
10:00p
CDT
9:00p
MDT
8:00p
MST
8:00p
PDT
7:00p
AKDT
6:00p
ALDT
5:00p
HIST
Tuesday 28 May 2002
Kentucky - Primary (EDT) *22200
UTC
6:00p
EDT

5:00p
EST
5:00p
CDT
4:00p
MDT
3:00p
MST
3:00p
PDT
2:00p
AKDT
1:00p
ALDT
12:00p
HIST
Kentucky - Primary (CDT) *22300
UTC
7:00p
EDT
6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Idaho - Primary (MDT) *20200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT

7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Idaho - Primary (PDT) *20300
UTC
11:00p
EDT
10:00p
EST
10:00p
CDT
9:00p
MDT
8:00p
MST
8:00p
PDT
7:00p
AKDT
6:00p
ALDT
5:00p
HIST
Tuesday 4 June 2002
New Jersey - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Alabama - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Mississippi - First Party Primary
South Dakota - Primary (CDT) *10100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT
6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
New Mexico - Primary0100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT

6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
South Dakota - Primary (MDT) *1
Iowa - Primary0200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT
7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Montana - Primary0200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT

7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Tuesday 11 June 2002
South Carolina - Primary2300
UTC
7:00p
EDT

6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Virginia - Primary
Maine - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
North Dakota - Primary (CDT) *20200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT
7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
North Dakota - Primary (MDT) *20300
UTC
11:00p
EDT
10:00p
EST
10:00p
CDT
9:00p
MDT

8:00p
MST
8:00p
PDT
7:00p
AKDT
6:00p
ALDT
5:00p
HIST
Tuesday 25 June 2002
South Carolina - Runoff (Gov-Rep, CD 3- Rep)2300
UTC
7:00p
EDT

6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Alabama - Run-off (Sen-D, CD1-Dem, CD1-Rep, CD7-Dem)0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Mississippi - Second Party Primary (Runoff)
Utah - Primary0200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT

7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Thursday 1 August 2002
Tennessee - Primary (EDT) *10000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Tennessee - Primary (CDT) *10000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Tuesday 6 August 2002
Michigan - Primary (EDT) *20000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Kansas - Primary (CDT) *10000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Missouri - Primary
Kansas - Primary (MDT) *10000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT

5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Michigan - Primary (CDT) *20100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT
6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 13 August 2002
Colorado - Primary0100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT

6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 20 August 2002
Georgia - Primary2300
UTC
7:00p
EDT

6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Wyoming - Primary0100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT

6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Tuesday 27 August 2002
Oklahoma - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Alaska - Primary (AKDT) *20400
UTC
12:00a
EDT
11:00p
EST
11:00p
CDT
10:00p
MDT
9:00p
MST
9:00p
PDT
8:00p
AKDT

7:00p
ALDT
6:00p
HIST
Alaska - Primary (ALDT) *20500
UTC
1:00a
EDT
12:00a
EST
12:00a
CDT
11:00p
MDT
10:00p
MST
10:00p
PDT
9:00p
AKDT
8:00p
ALDT
7:00p
HIST
Tuesday 3 September 2002
Nevada - Primary0200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT
7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Saturday 7 September 2002
Delaware - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Tuesday 10 September 2002
Florida - Primary (EDT) *22300
UTC
7:00p
EDT

6:00p
EST
6:00p
CDT
5:00p
MDT
4:00p
MST
4:00p
PDT
3:00p
AKDT
2:00p
ALDT
1:00p
HIST
Georgia - Runoff: CD 4 Rep, CD 11 Rep, CD 12 Dem
New Hampshire - Primary (EDT) *2
Vermont - Primary
North Carolina - Primary (EDT) *22330
UTC
7:30p
EDT

6:30p
EST
6:30p
CDT
5:30p
MDT
4:30p
MST
4:30p
PDT
3:30p
AKDT
2:30p
ALDT
1:30p
HIST
Connecticut - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
District of Columbia - Primary
Maryland - Primary
New Hampshire - Primary (EDT) *2
Florida - Primary (CDT) *20000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
North Carolina - Primary (EDT) *20030
UTC
8:30p
EDT

7:30p
EST
7:30p
CDT
6:30p
MDT
5:30p
MST
5:30p
PDT
4:30p
AKDT
3:30p
ALDT
2:30p
HIST
New York - Primary0100
UTC
9:00p
EDT

8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT
6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Rhode Island - Primary
Minnesota - Primary0100
UTC
9:00p
EDT
8:00p
EST
8:00p
CDT
7:00p
MDT
6:00p
MST
6:00p
PDT
5:00p
AKDT
4:00p
ALDT
3:00p
HIST
Wisconsin - Primary
Arizona - Primary0200
UTC
10:00p
EDT
9:00p
EST
9:00p
CDT
8:00p
MDT
7:00p
MST
7:00p
PDT
6:00p
AKDT
5:00p
ALDT
4:00p
HIST
Tuesday 17 September 2002
Massachusetts - Primary0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT

7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Oklahoma - Runoff: Governor Dem, Senate Dem, CD 4 Dem0000
UTC
8:00p
EDT
7:00p
EST
7:00p
CDT
6:00p
MDT
5:00p
MST
5:00p
PDT
4:00p
AKDT
3:00p
ALDT
2:00p
HIST
Washington - Primary0300
UTC
11:00p
EDT
10:00p
EST
10:00p
CDT
9:00p
MDT
8:00p
MST
8:00p
PDT
7:00p
AKDT
6:00p
ALDT
5:00p
HIST
Saturday 21 September 2002
Hawaii - Primary0400
UTC
12:00a
EDT
11:00p
EST
11:00p
CDT
10:00p
MDT
9:00p
MST
9:00p
PDT
8:00p
AKDT
7:00p
ALDT
6:00p
HIST
Saturday 30 November 2002
Hawaii - Special Election 107th House CD 20400
UTC
11:00p
EST
10:00p
CST
9:00p
MST
8:00p
PST
7:00p
AKST
6:00p
ALST
6:00p
HIST
Saturday 7 December 2002
Louisiana - Midterm Election Runoff (Senate 2, House 5)0200
UTC
9:00p
EST
8:00p
CST
7:00p
MST
6:00p
PST
5:00p
AKST
4:00p
ALST
4:00p
HIST
No activity
American Samoa
Guam
Northern Marianas
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
(no activity)
 
 

Notes

Polling places in states that span multiple time zones will close either synchronously or asynchronously.

  • (Note *1) With synchronized closing, all the polls close at the same GMT/UTC time. When polls close in the advanced local time zone, they will close one hour earlier in the lagging local time zone.
  • (Note *2) With asynchronous closing, the polls close at different GMT/UTC times in different parts of the state. Media outlets might decide to declare a winner before all the polls have closed.

Texas: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 12 March 2002 at 7:00p CST (0100 UTC) / 7:00p MST (0200 UTC). Only the area surrounding El Paso is in MST- so the vast majority of the polls have closed in TX by 7 PM CST.

Texas: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 9 April 2002 at 7:00p CDT (0000 UTC) / 7:00p MDT (0100 UTC). Only the area surrounding El Paso is in MST- so the vast majority of the polls have closed in TX by 7 PM CDT.

Indiana: Polls close on Tuesday 7 May 2002 at 6:00p EST (2300 UTC) / 6:00p CDT (2300 UTC). During Daylight Savings Time, the Central Time portions of INDIANA go on Daylight Time while the Eastern Time portions remain on Standard Time, so that the whole State of INDIANA is on the same Time during the Summer.

Nebraska: Polls close on Tuesday 14 May 2002 at 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC) / 7:00p MDT (0100 UTC). The polls close at the same GMT/UTC time, that is, polls close at a particular local time in the advanced time zone and close one hour earlier local time in the lagging time zone.

Oregon: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 21 May 2002 at 8:00p PDT (0300 UTC) / 8:00p MDT (0200 UTC). OREGON is the reverse of the norm because the by far largest portion of the state is in the lagging time zone and the networks have no choice but to not consider the OREGON polls closed until 8 PM PDT.

Idaho: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 28 May 2002 at 8:00p MDT (0200 UTC) / 8:00p PDT (0300 UTC). A sizable part of IDAHO is in PDT but, as the MDT section is the much more populated portion of the state, the networks consider that "most of the polls in IDAHO" are closed by 8 PM MDT.

Kentucky: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 28 May 2002 at 6:00p EDT (2200 UTC) / 6:00p CDT (2300 UTC). Poll closing time could be rather problematic in KENTUCKY. A large chunk of the state is in CDT [but the networks consider that "most of the polls have closed" in KENTUCKY by 6 PM EDT and so, if they can, project at the same time they project INDIANA]. CDT voters in KENTUCKY may note the networks' willingness/eagerness to project a winner as early as 6 PM EDT.

South Dakota: Polls close on Tuesday 4 June 2002 at 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC) / 7:00p MDT (0100 UTC). The polls close at the same GMT/UTC time, that is, polls close at a particular local time in the advanced time zone and close one hour earlier local time in the lagging time zone.

North Dakota: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 11 June 2002 at 9:00p CDT (0200 UTC) / 9:00p MDT (0300 UTC). The western half of the state is in MDT but that is, of course, the more sparsely populated part of the state, so it is not as problematic to the networks as might be otherwise suggested by simple geography.

Tennessee: Polls close on Thursday 1 August 2002 at 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC) / 7:00p CDT (0000 UTC). The polls close at the same GMT/UTC time, that is, polls close at a particular local time in the advanced time zone and close one hour earlier local time in the lagging time zone.

Kansas: Polls close on Tuesday 6 August 2002 at 7:00p CDT (0000 UTC) / 6:00p MDT (0000 UTC). Most polls in the State close at either 7 pm or 8 pm local time in the Central Time Zone by local option; the remaining polls in the Mountain Time Zone close at either 6 pm or 7 pm local time by local option. The time noted as the "official" poll closing time is the statutory poll closing time and is that at which the networks generally consider the polls in the State to have closed.

Michigan: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 6 August 2002 at 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC) / 8:00p CDT (0100 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state is in CDT and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EDT, when the networks feel they can project.

Alaska: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 27 August 2002 at 8:00p AKDT (0400 UTC) / 8:00p ALDT (0500 UTC). Alaska Time covers most of the state except for the Aleutian Islands west of Umnak Island (approximately half of Aleutian Islands). The media considers Alaska's polls to close at 8 PM Alaska Time and, thus, considers the State "callable" after that hour.

Florida: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 10 September 2002 at 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC) / 7:00p CDT (0000 UTC). Relatively small portions of this state are in CDT and so the vast majority of the polls are closed by the time indicated EDT.

New Hampshire: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 10 September 2002 at 7:00p EDT (2300 UTC) / 8:00p EDT (0000 UTC). NEW HAMPSHIRE permits its 13 cities to keep their polls open until 8 PM EDT by local option- however, as there ARE only 13 cities among New Hampshire's 234 County subdivisions [the 221 "non-cities", of course, being the proverbial New England Town(ship)], the fact is that the vast majority of NH's polls have closed by 7 PM EDT and the networks have no problem considering this hour as the earliest hour of potential projection.

North Carolina: Polls close asynchronously on Tuesday 10 September 2002 at 7:30p EDT (2330 UTC) / 8:30p EDT (0030 UTC). NORTH CAROLINA allows its County Boards of Elections to decide whether to keep polls open until 8:30 p.m. EDT but, outside of metropolitan areas, this local option is not often utilized and so 7:30 p.m. EDT is the networks' earliest time of projection beacuse the vast majority of that state's polls will have closed by that hour.

 
 

Time zone abbreviations


UCT: Universal Coordinated Time, Greenwich England
EST: Eastern Standard Time, UCT - 5 hours
EDT: Eastern Daylight Time, UCT - 4 hours
CST: Central Standard Time, UCT - 6 hours
CDT: Central Daylight Time, UCT - 5 hours
MST: Mountain Standard Time, UCT - 7 hours
MDT: Mountain Daylight Time, UCT - 6 hours
PST: Pacific Standard Time, UCT - 8 hours
PDT: Pacific Daylight Time, UCT - 7 hours
AKST: Alaska Standard Time, UCT - 9 hours
AKDT: Alaska Daylight Time, UCT - 8 hours
ALST: Aleution Standard Time, UCT - 10 hours
ALDT: Aleution Daylight Time, UCT - 9 hours
HIST: Hawaii Time, UCT - 10 hours
m: midnight
a: AM
p: PM

 
 


  Midterm Election Home  
  RACES TO KEEP AN EYE ON -- A Spectator's Guide To Election 2002  
  Contests To Watch (pre-election polls)  
Poll Closing Times:   5 November Chronologically   --   5 November Alphabetically   --   Primaries  
....
  2002 Primary and Runoff Elections Chronologically   --   2002 Primary and Runoff Elections Alphabetically  
  Governors     Senate     107th House (2001-2002)     108th House (2003-2004)  
....
  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
....
  2002 Partisan Composition by State  
  Midterm Election Congressional Districts  
  Senate Electoral Classes  
....
  Governors of the States of the Union by REGION and subregion  
  "Class 2" U.S. Senate seats up for election in 2002 by REGION and Subregion  
  Change in Representation in U.S. House by REGION and Subregion between 2000 and 2002