TOLEDO, Ohio — Election Day has come and gone and now we are officially into Election Season. It is all over but the counting, but we'll keep you up to date on the latest developments and bring you projected results as they come in.
The 2020 election, taking place amid the COVID-19 pandemic, may turn out to see an Election Day become an election week, or maybe even election month, largely due to the unprecedented number of absentee and mail-in voting that will be taking place.
Explore the story below to see time-stamped updates as the election unfolds. Be sure to refresh this story often as the most-recent information will appear at the top.
You can see the latest election results HERE.
WEDNESDAY
9:15 p.m.
The Associated Press has projected Democrat Gary Peters wins reelection to U.S. Senate from Michigan.
8 p.m.
Mich. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson held a virtual press conference Wednesday night, updating the public on the state's counting process.
Benson said that as of 8:20 p.m., all valid ballots - and only valid ballots - had been tabulated in the battleground state, saying the results "reflect the will of the people."
She explained the state will move on to its canvass, which will be completed over the next 13 days.
The secretary of state urged residents to refrain from sharing misinformation which aims to throw American's faith in the electoral process into question.
President Donald Trump's campaign has already filed suit in the state, with the goal of a temporary halt in the process until it is given "meaningful" access in multiple locations and is asking to review ballots that have already been opened and processed.
The AP’s Mich. call for Biden came after the suit was filed.
Benson called Trump's lawsuit "frivolous," claiming it is without merit. She said that filing such claims only serves to underscore faith in U.S. elections.
4:37 p.m.
CBS News is projecting former Vice President Joe Biden to win the state of Michigan. Remember, these are unofficial results.
11:15 a.m.
A news conference is planned soon by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to discuss vote-counting progress in the battleground state. The state remains too close to call, along with other states that have major electoral vote implications: Wisconsin, Georgia and Pennsylvania.
5 a.m.
Political expert Dr. David Jackson from BGSU explains what the current, unofficial results mean for the country and how much longer we'll have to wait until a decision is made.
"We have never technically known the results of a presidential election the night of an election," Dr. Jackson said.
4:00 a.m.
Joe Biden's campaign says it has "legal teams standing by" to fight any efforts by President Donald Trump's campaign to go to the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent ballots from being tabulated.
Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon called Trump's statement that he will “be going to the U.S. Supreme Court” and that he wants “all voting to stop” “outrageous, unprecedented and incorrect.”
A winner in the presidential race has not yet been declared. The Associated Press says there are still hundreds of thousands of votes left to be counted, and the outcome hinges on a handful of uncalled battleground states.
3:14 a.m.
All Lucas County precincts have been reported. Some unofficial results include:
- Lucas County Sheriff - Mike Navarre
- Lucas County Commissioner - Pete Gerken
- Lucas County Treasurer - Lindsay Webb
- Toledo City Council at Large - Katie Moline
Every levy and issue on the ballot has unofficially passed. Bob Latta, Marcy Kaptur, Theresa Gavarone and Paula Hicks-Hudson have also unofficially won their respective races.
Lucas County is reporting 65.6% voter turnout.
View all Lucas County unofficial results HERE.
3:00 a.m.
Joe Biden has flipped Arizona as the AP is calling the state a win for him. The last two Democrats to win the state were Bill Clinton in 1996 and Harry Truman in 1948, according to the Associated Press. Remember, these are unofficial results.
2:32 a.m.
Almost all Lucas County precincts have been reported early Wednesday morning. 310 out of 312 are reporting, making that 99.4%.
2:23 a.m.
President Donald Trump addressed supporters in the East Room of the White House saying, "We won the great state of Ohio," among other states, including Florida and Texas.
"I love Ohio," President Trump said.
The president also stated he is winning Pennsylvania by a "tremendous" amount of votes as well as saying he has won North Carolina and Georgia, even though none of these states have been called yet. Some states may not be called for days.
President Trump also said he would take it to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop vote counting across the country.
Stay updated on each state with the general elections map HERE.
1:11 a.m.
AP is projecting a win for President Donald Trump in Texas. Remember that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
Lucas County also says 81.7% of precincts have been reported in its unofficial election results.
You can see the latest election results for Lucas County HERE.
12:43 a.m.
Democrat Joe Biden addresses supporters in Wilmington, Delaware, saying, "We feel good about where we are."
"It's not my place or Donald Trump's place to declare the results of this election. It's the American people's place."
12:37 a.m.
AP now is projecting victory in Florida for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
12:19 a.m.
AP now is projecting victory in Ohio, Iowa and Montana for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
12:13 a.m.
AP is projecting victory in Minnesota for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
12:10 a.m.
CBS News is projecting victory in Ohio for President Donald J. Trump. Ohio stays red as the president has claimed Ohio in the 2020 election against Democratic candidate Joe Biden. It’s the second time Ohio has voted in favor of the president after he defeated Hillary Clinton in the Buckeye State back in 2016. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election. The Associated Press has not yet called it, though other networks have.
12:06 a.m.
AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Hawaii. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
TUESDAY
11:55 p.m.
The votes from all precincts in Lucas County are now physically at the Lucas County Early Vote Center. Now, voting takes place.
11:32 p.m.
The Associated Press provides some guidance on why it hasn't called Florida: Trump and Biden are locked in a tight race in Florida, and it is too early for The Associated Press to call the perennial battleground state. Florida has a history of close elections, including the state’s 2018 governor’s race, which went to a recount. The AP is waiting on more vote count to come in in south Florida, including Miami-Dade County, the largest county in the state.
11:10 p.m.
In Lucas County, only 29% of precincts have reported.
11:07 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Utah for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
11:05 p.m.
The presidential race in Ohio has still not been called by the Associated Press. Here is how the race is looking as of right now:
11 p.m.
Four more races have been called by the Associated Press in unofficial, uncertified projected results:
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins California.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Idaho.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Oregon.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Washington.
10:54 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in New Hampshire for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
10:50 p.m.
Sandusky County has 100% of its precincts reporting and reports a 73.63% turnout.
10:31 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Missouri for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
10:17 p.m.
Ohio remains not called by the Associated Press. As of this point in time, here is how the presidential race is shaping up in the state:
10:09 p.m.
Findlay schools' 3.9-mill operating levy is voted down by a 2,021 vote margin.
10:05 p.m.
Lucas County reports turnout of 32.5%, with 97,466 ballots cast out of 299,793 registered voters. As of 10:02 p.m., 16 of 312 precincts had fully reported.
10 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Kansas for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
9:58 p.m.
AP Race Call: Republican Brad Wenstrup projected to win re-election to U.S. House in Ohio's 2nd Congressional District. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
9:56 p.m.
Ohio remains too close to call. As of this point in time, here is how the presidential race is shaping up in the state:
9:51 p.m.
100% of precincts in Hancock County have reported.
9:42 p.m.
Voting is taking place right now at the Lucas County Early Vote Center.
9:28 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Colorado for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
9:30 p.m.
Ohio remains too close to call. As of this point in time, here is how the presidential race is shaping up in the state:
9:28 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in the District of Columbia for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
9:26 p.m.
In Putnam County, 100% of precincts have reported. Turnout was 83%.
9:11 p.m.
Ohio remains too close to call. As of this point in time, here is how the presidential race is shaping up in the state:
9 p.m.
Six races have been called by the Associated Press in unofficial, uncertified projected results:
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins New York.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins South Dakota.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Wyoming.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Louisiana.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins New Mexico.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Nebraska.
8:53 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Indiana for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
8:42 p.m.
AP Race Call: Republican Jim Jordan wins re-election to U.S. House in Ohio's 4th Congressional District. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
8:39 p.m.
Fulton County, GEORGIA, reports that a water pipe has burst in a room storing absentee ballots and counting was delayed for at least two hours. Again, this is Georgia's Fulton County, not Ohio's.
8:31 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Arkansas for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
8:21 p.m.
Henry County is starting to report its results now.
8:09 p.m.
Fulton County is starting to report its results now.
8:08 p.m.
Stay up to date on the Balance of Power here:
8:01 p.m.
AP Race Call: Republican Bob Latta projected to wins re-election to U.S. House in Ohio's 5th Congressional District. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
8 p.m.
Nine races have been called by the Associated Press in unofficial, uncertified projected results:
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Connecticut.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Delaware.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Illinois.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Tennessee.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Maryland.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Massachusetts.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins New Jersey.
- AP Race Call: Donald Trump wins Oklahoma.
- AP Race Call: Joe Biden wins Rhode Island.
7:58 p.m.
We are starting to get results in from Lucas County.
7:56 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in South Carolina for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
7:56 p.m.
Wood County is the first to report results in the area.
7:46 p.m.
AP Race Call: Democrat Marcy Kaptur projected to win re-election to U.S. House in Ohio's 9th Congressional District. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
7:37 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in Virginia for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
7:31 p.m.
AP is projecting victory in West Virginia for President Donald J. Trump. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
7 p.m.
AP is projecting victories in Kentucky for President Donald Trump and in Vermont for former VP Joe Biden. Keep in mind that election results tonight are unofficial and uncertified, as they are every election.
7 p.m.
Michigan's polls close in ONE HOUR. Once results start being reported, you can see the latest, unofficial, uncertified results at this link: /elections
6:30 p.m.
Ohio's polls close in ONE HOUR. Once results start being reported by Ohio county boards of election, you can see the latest, unofficial, uncertified results at this link: /elections
6:21 p.m.
WTOL 11's Tyler Paley is tracking potential problems at polling places today. Mostly it's smooth sailing out there. There is one issue in Michigan, as reported earlier: Robocalls making false claims that because of long lines, voting will take place tomorrow.
4:15 p.m.
The Lucas County Board of Elections updated its voting numbers just 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. As of that report, 82,645 voters had cast their ballot. There are 299,792 registered voters in the county, putting turnout at 27.5%. However, polls are open until 7:30 p.m., leaving three hours left for more Lucas County residents to show up and cast their ballots.
Looking back to Nov. 2016 results, there were 309,997 registered voters in Lucas County, 205,060 voted, which was 68.13% turnout total for the general election.
In the March 2020 primary, there were 287,099 registered voters and 49,775 voted for 17.34% voter turnout.
3 p.m.
The Lucas County Board of Election reported that more than 63,000 people have voted today as of 1 p.m. About 34,000 voted early and more than 60,000 voted absentee. Another update is set for 4 p.m.
2:41 p.m.
A bright red firetruck festooned with 'TRUMP KEEP AMERICA GREAT 2020' banners does not belong to the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, officials with TFRD said on Election Day.
"Please be advised that this vehicle is an old decommissioned TFRD ladder truck that was sold at auction many years ago and is now privately owned. The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department has no affiliation with the individual or individuals who now own this vehicle. As always, we remain neutral when it comes to any political affiliation or issue," an email from TFRD said.
2:25 p.m.
What if I see something "off" at the polling place? You have a variety of ways to let someone know.
To let us know how your voting experience goes, here are the many ways to get in touch.
- Text WTOL 11 directly at 419-248-1100
- SMS: Text the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 81380 (standard text message rates apply).
- WhatsApp: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 1-850-909-8683.
- Facebook Messenger: Go to m.me/electionland.
Complete this form to share your election experience with us so ProPublica and our partners can investigate.
2 p.m.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has an afternoon update to tell the state how things are going so far. He notes there were more than 8 million Ohioans registered to vote.
Things are going "smoothly," LaRose said, and said a few bumps were experienced but worked out with contingency plans.
Franklin County's decision to switch to a backup plan to check in voters using paper check-in books - the old three-ring binders - went well, he said.
Greene County had an issue this morning with voting machines that weren't working. LaRose said the issue was corrected by the voting machine company. Paper ballots were available while the machines were down.
LaRose reiterated the rules regarding the 100-foot boundary in which no electioneering or political activity can occur. Voters are not to wear apparel that shows his or her favorite candidate inside that zone. Outside that zone, people are free to exercise their free speech.
"What will never be tolerated is any kind of voter intimidation," LaRose said.
He said no reports of intimidation had been received by his office.
He also shared several anecdotes, including a polling location in Miami County at which a woman accidentally drove her car into the building. She was OK, the building needs repairs but is structurally sound enough to keep serving as a polling location. Voting continued.
RELATED: Campaign 2020: How and when are absentee ballots counted in Ohio? When do results start coming in?
LaRose also says tonight his office will report "an accurate but incomplete number. - We never have a final result on election night."
There's also no outstanding litigation at this time, he said.
1:37 p.m.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose will give an update on how elections are going in the state at 2 p.m. We'll bring that news briefing to you here live.
1:25 p.m.
WTOL 11 Sports Director Jordan Strack escorted his 89-year-old grandmother to the polls to vote today.
Noon
Showing off your "I Voted" stickers
PHOTOS: Show us your 'I Voted' stickers
11:31 a.m.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel says that her office is getting reports of multiple robocalls going to Flint residents that, due to long lines, they should vote tomorrow.
"Obviously this is FALSE and an effort to suppress the vote. No long lines and today is the last day to vote. Don’t believe the lies! Have your voice heard!" her tweet read.
Mich. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also tweeted about the instances of deliberate voter misinformation that have taken place in the state.
"We received reports that an unknown party is purposefully spreading misinformation via robocalls in Flint in an attempt to confuse voters. Let me be clear — if you plan to vote in-person, you must do so, or be in line to do so, by 8PM today."
11:20 a.m.
Our own Dan Cummins voted in person today, reporting smooth sailing.
10:45 a.m.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose updates the state on how Election Day is going so far, noting nearly 4,000 polling locations opened in Ohio this morning.
He noted a few isolated problems "here and there," but noted everything has a contingency plan and elections were flowing smoothly as of 10:45 a.m.
7:17 a.m. Electronic voter check-in is not working in Franklin County. WBNS, our sister station in Columbus, is reporting that poll workers are having to check voters in manually. Read more.
7:08 a.m. The Franklin County Board of Elections is experiencing an issue with uploading all early in-person voting data into their electronic check-in system.
6:30 a.m.
There are already lines in Lucas and Wood Counties as voters make sure they're there to cast their ballot as soon as polling locations opened up in Ohio.
On social media, Toledo police and Secretary of State Frank LaRose are urging voters to make their voices heard on Election Day.
WHEN AND WHERE TO VOTE IN OHIO AND MICHIGAN
Here's one certainty: Ohio polls open at 6:30 a.m. and Michigan polls open at 7 a.m.
To find your polling location in Ohio, you can visit this link from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office.
To find your polling location in Michigan, you can visit this link from the Michigan Secretary of State's Office.
WHAT DO I BRING WITH ME TO VOTE?
In Ohio, you are asked to bring a form of ID with you to the polls. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Photo ID
- Military ID
- Utility bill
- Bank statement
- Government check
- Paycheck
- Other government document
Unacceptable forms of ID in Ohio are:
- Driver’s license or photo identification card issued by a state other than Ohio;
- Social Security card;
- Passport;
- Birth certificate, unless voter still lives at the house where they resided at birth, and the birth certificate contains that home address, in which case this is acceptable as an "other government document";
- Insurance card; or
- Any registration acknowledgment notice from the county board of elections.
In Ohio, if you do not provide one of the above documents or your driver’s license/state identification number or the last four digits of your Social Security number at the precinct, you will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot. However, in order for that ballot to be counted, you must return to the board of elections no later than seven days following Election Day to provide a qualifying form of identification.
Michigan has a voter identification requirement at the polls. Voters are asked to present an acceptable photo ID such as a Michigan driver's license or identification card. Voters who do not have an acceptable form of ID or failed to bring it with them to the polls still can vote. They will sign a brief affidavit stating that they're not in possession of a photo ID. Their ballots are included with all others and counted on Election Day.
The following types of photo ID are acceptable in Michigan:
- Michigan driver's license or state-issued ID card
- Driver's license or personal identification card issued by another state
- Federal or state government-issued photo identification
- U.S. passport
- Military ID with photo
- Student identification with photo from a high school or accredited institution of higher learning
- Tribal identification card with photo