Voting usually “ends” at the official poll closing time set for a specific election and location, not at a single universal time everywhere.

Key point

  • For most governmental elections, in-person voting ends when polling places close on Election Day, often in the early evening (for example, many U.S. locations close around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. local time).
  • Mail or absentee ballots often have a different rule: they must be postmarked by Election Day and received by a certain deadline after, which means counting can continue even though in-person voting has ended.

Why there’s no single answer

  • Each country, state, or local jurisdiction sets its own voting hours and deadlines in law or election regulations.
  • Even within one country, different regions can have slightly different closing times or rules for mail, early, and provisional ballots.

How to find your exact deadline

  • Check your local or national election authority’s website (for example, your city/municipal clerk, county registrar, or national election commission) for “voting hours” or “when do polls close.”
  • Look for separate information on:
    • Polling place closing time
    • Last day/time to return mail ballots
    • Early voting end date and hours

If you share your country/state or the specific election you mean, a more precise “voting ends at X time on X date” can be given.