Polls have closed in some states for Election Day 2024, and now the wait begins.

All signs point to historic participation in Maine and across the country. Before the polls opened Tuesday, roughly 40% of registered voters here had cast ballots, and there were long lines to vote in person in many communities, including those registering for the first time.

This could mean vote counting slows down as the evening progresses, delaying results.

The winner of the closely watched presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump may not be known for days if the numbers are close in battleground states.

Maine also has one U.S. Senate race, two U.S. House races – including one of the closest races in the nation in the 2nd Congressional District – 186 seats in the Maine Legislature, five statewide ballot questions – the official state flag, more than 1901 It should be modified to resemble the simple, original version and a series of municipal races and ballot questions.

• Find results for all Maine races here

• Additional results and election maps across the country

19:10 — Associated Press calls Kentucky for Trump, Vermont for Harris

The Associated Press began calling just after polls closed at 7 p.m. in some states.

Donald Trump is expected to win Indiana as well as the Republican-dominated state of Kentucky. Kamala Harris is expected to win Vermont.

Although actual results have not been tabulated, the AP and other news outlets are calling for candidates from states based on exit polls and other data. The states called in the early evening will likely be states where either Trump or Harris have large electoral advantages.

7:20 – Voting still strong in Cape Elizabeth

CAPE ELIZABETH – Voters were still heading to the polls Tuesday evening at Cape Elizabeth High School, where turnout was “pleasantly steady” all day, Town Clerk Angela Frawley said.

“We got off to a strong start when people flocked in and we had some lines,” Frawley said. “We had some fluctuations throughout the day, but for the most part it was stable.”

More than half of registered voters in Cape Elizabeth — about 4,500 residents — cast their absentee ballots early, he said.

“I’ll bet we’ll be over 80% eventually,” he said. “That’s my guess. Cape Elizabeth always has high attendance.”

This is Frawley’s first presidential election since becoming town clerk earlier this year. The woman, a former division chief with the Portland Fire Department, wore a U.S. flag necklace and earrings for the occasion.

“A lot of people seemed to be in a really good mood,” Frawley said. “It gives a lot of people great joy to vote.”

Jeremy Perkins was among the later voters in Cape Elizabeth. No particular race or issue affected him.

“I have voted in every election since I was 18,” he said. “No matter what’s on the ballot, I’ll be here.”

This year, he also wanted to set a good example for his partner’s daughter, Brooke Giroux, an 18-year-old University of Southern Maine student who was voting for the first time.

“I was mostly worried because it was my first time,” he said. “But it was important to me personally because I want to have my rights.”

– Kelley Bouchard, Portland Press Herald

Check back here for live updates throughout the evening.

Copy Story Link