The 2024 US election is shaping up to be one of the closest races in living memory, with much of the world, including Australia, watching with great anticipation. In fact, since the emergence of Donald Trump as a presidential force, it can sometimes feel as though US politics gets as much media coverage in Australia as our own leaders.
This means the 2024 election is easy to follow, with live TV and rolling online news coverage. There will also be in-person election watch parties across Australia.
Here’s everything you need to know about the election if you’re in Australia.
When is the US election in Australian time?
The presidential election will be held on Tuesday 5 November in the US, which means most of the action will occur on Wednesday 6 November in Australia.
What time and date will it be in Australia when polls close?
Polls begin to close in eastern states from 6pm US Eastern Time on Tuesday, 5 November. In Australia, this will be on Wednesday – from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time, 9am in Queensland, 9.30am in South Australia and 7am in Western Australia.
By 8pm US ET, polls will have fully closed in more than 20 states, including the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. In Australia it will be Wednesday noon AEDT, 11am in Queensland, 11.30am in SA and 9am in WA.
Polls will close in Michigan and Wisconsin – two other crucial states – by 9pm US ET, which in Australia will be Wednesday 1pm AEDT, 12pm in Queensland, 12.30pm in SA and 10am in WA.
Hawaii and Alaska, the western-most states, will close their polls at 12am US ET, which in Australia will be Wednesday 4pm AEDT, 3pm in Queensland, 3.30pm in SA and 1pm in WA.
When will the election results be announced?
We should have a good sense of who will probably be president by the time polls close in Hawaii and Alaska, which is several hours after vote counting in some key eastern states will have begun.
The world may have to wait a bit longer to hear a final call, especially given how tightly contested some polling has indicated the vote will be.
In 2020 the Associated Press did not declare Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election until 7 November at 11.26am US ET – four days after the first polls closed. And in 2016 it took until 2.29am US ET the morning after election day to declare Trump the winner.
If a winner is to be declared in a similar timeframe to 2016, that would fall around Wednesday evening in Australia, about 7PM AEDT, 6pm in Queensland, 6.30pm in SA and 4pm in WA.
What TV channels in Australia will have live coverage?
All free-to-air TV stations will have rolling coverage. The ABC, Channel 10, Nine and SBS’s coverage all begins at or shortly after 10am AEDT on Wednesday. Channel Seven’s coverage will begin at 11.30am.
The SBS broadcast will include coverage from the US outlet PBS.
Coverage will continue throughout the day, with Australian channels breaking for local news bulletins and evening programs at different points.
What about online news coverage?
The Guardian has you sorted, with our extensive bureaux across the US as well as newsrooms around the world.
We will be running a live blog covering the election throughout the day, in addition to our continued extensive US election coverage, which will include a live results tracker.
Where are US election watch parties being held in my city?
Adelaide
The University of Adelaide’s Politics and International Relations Association will be holding its party at the Crown and Sceptre hotel from 11am (local time) on Wednesday.
Brisbane
Democrats Abroad, an official arm of the Democratic party, is holding its party at the Pig ‘N’ Whistle from 10am on Wednesday.
Canberra
Democrats Abroad is holding its party at PJ’s in the City from 10am on Wednesday 6 November.
Melbourne
AmCham, the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia, is holding a watch party at Hawthorn hotel from 2pm on Wednesday. The party will feature a live broadcast of NBC’s election coverage. This is a paid, ticketed event.
Democrats Abroad is holding its party at Belgrave hotel from 10am on Wednesday.
Perth
Perth USAsia Centre will be holding its party at the IQX building at the University of Western Australia from 7.30am on Wednesday.
Sydney
Democrats Abroad is holding its party at Kent Street hotel from 9.30am on Wednesday.
Read more of the Guardian’s 2024 US election coverage:
US election 2024 live updates: latest polls, results and news
How the electoral college works
Lessons from the key swing states
What’s at stake in this election
