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It's election day evening, and results for various states are starting to come in now after ballot stations close around the country, so these are the hours you want to tune in for. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the election results live streams, including free options around the world with a variety of news stations to choose from.
At the top of the ballot is the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party nominee, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican Party nominee. 34 Senate seats and all 435 House seats are also up for grabs, in addition to local government positions across the country. While there's no telling exactly when results will become available, the first states usually begin to report later in the evening as polls close and votes are counted. Major news networks across the US will offer robust around-the-clock coverage, and several international channels will carry coverage in regions including the UK and Canada.
Whether you have a favorite network you like to get your news from or you're looking for a viewing option that lets you toggle between several top channels, we've got you covered. If you want to know how to watch the election results without cable, we can help you do that too further down the page. Some states might take until later tomorrow or even a few days later to confirm their counts.
Where to watch election results in the US
The good news is that if you have access to a TV or cell phone, you should be able to watch some sort of election coverage for free. Many major news networks — including ABC, NBC, CBS, and CNN — make their election-based news coverage available for free through their respective websites, with free channels like ABC News Live or NBC News NOW. Fox News doesn't have a free online option on its website, but you can live stream coverage by signing in with your TV provider if you have one.
If you don't have cable, you can also live stream all five major news channels through various live streaming services. Additional news networks, including MSNBC, are also available in select streaming packages. Below, we'll highlight some of the best streaming services out there and which channels are available in their base packages.
For just the essentials without any extra fluff, Sling TV is the streaming service you're looking for. It's more customizable than other plans, with three options you can choose from, so you pay for only what you need. New members get their first month for half-off.
Sling TV is one of the cheapest live TV packages out there. The service offers two base subscriptions starting at $40/month. Both plans include CNN, but news buffs will want to opt for Sling Blue, which offers local networks like NBC, ABC, and FOX in select regions. Sling Blue also carries MSNBC, Fox News, and about 40 other live channels. New customers can usually get half off their first month of service.
Previously known as AT&T TV, DirecTV Stream offers streaming access to a large selection of live channels, including most key networks typically found in traditional cable packages.
DirecTV Stream is the best streaming service if you're hoping for sure-fire access to almost all major news networks, including broad coverage of NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN. DirecTV Stream starts at $87/month and includes a five-day free trial. The base subscription carries 90+ channels, but you can upgrade to a higher tier for even more options.
Fubo is the streaming service for sports fans. Its huge library of channels includes regional and international sports leagues, setting it apart from the competition. You can also tack on additional programming to your plan, but it'll cost you extra.
Fubo is another broad live TV service with comprehensive CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox News coverage. The streaming service offers over 100 channels in its base plan but lacks CNN and other Warner Bros. channels like TNT and TBS. The service also carries MSNBC. Plans start at $80/month and include a seven-day free trial. New customers can also get $20 off their first month of service.
Max is a premium service for fans of prestige television, iconic films, and unscripted programs. Prices start at $10 a month for ad-supported, $17 for ad-free, and $21 if you want to view in 4K.
Max, which is best known as HBO's streaming counterpart, offers lots of live CNN coverage. While the exact CNN Max offerings are a bit different from the cable channel, coverage surrounding major events (like the election) will be available to live stream through Max. Subscriptions start at $10/month.
Peacock is a convenient streaming source for hit NBC TV shows, Universal movies, and select sports like Sunday Night Football. Prices start at $8 a month, with additional discounts on annual plans.
Those only interested in live streaming NBC can do so through Peacock. The ability to live stream NBC requires that you select the slightly more expensive Peacock Premium Plus plan for $14/month, but NBC News NOW is available to live stream through Peacock's base Premium plan, which costs $8/month.
Paramount Plus is perfect for viewers who want to stream CBS TV shows, local NFL games, and tons of content from Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. And if you get the premium tier you can also unlock ad-free streaming and access to Showtime.
CBS fans can watch the network with a Paramount Plus plan. While you'll need to upgrade to the Paramount Plus with Showtime tier for $13/month to access live streams of your local CBS station, you can watch CBS News live with a base Paramount Plus Essential plan, which only costs $8/month. All Paramount Plus subscriptions, including annual plans, come with a one-week free trial.
Amazon Prime Video is a capable, competitive streaming service that's more than just a Prime membership perk. You can also sign up for a stand-alone plan at $9/month.
Prime Video is an absolute hub for election news. The streaming service offers live streams from ABC News Live, CBS News 24/7, CNN Headlines, LiveNOW from FOX, NBC News NOW, and more. The service also offers international news options for US viewers, including streams from BBC, Reuters, and Sky News. Notably, Prime Video will also offer its own election coverage, including Election Night Live with Brian Williams, which starts at 5 p.m. ET and continues throughout the evening. Prime Video subscriptions cost $9/month, but access to the streaming service is also included with every Amazon Prime subscription.
Where to watch election results in the UK
British coverage of the US election will be available across several broadcasters, including the BBC and Sky News. British folks can live stream the coverage for free through BBC iPlayer, which only requires account creation to use.
Where to watch election results in Canada
Canada will also offer robust US election coverage, with options like CTV News offering updates and results to Canadians throughout the evening. No account creation is required to watch live coverage through the CTV News website.
How to watch election results from anywhere
If you're traveling away from home and still want to keep up with any of your go-to news streaming options, you can do so with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are easy-to-use cybersecurity tools that enable you to change your electronic device's virtual location. This way, you can use your usual apps and websites just like you would at home. ExpressVPN is our top recommendation for the VPN-curious. It's a user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee and other perks, which we break down in our ExpressVPN review.
With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that makes it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get an extra three months for free today.
When will election results be available?
There's no exact given time that election results will become available. The first states usually begin to report in the evening. The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET, according to CNN, but polling extends into the night in many areas, especially given time differences. Networks can refrain from immediately announcing a winner in years when the race is particularly close. In 2020, a mid-Covid election that dealt with counting massive amounts of mail-in ballots, President Joe Biden wasn't officially announced as the winner until days later. Other presidential elections, including the 2016 election, have been called much sooner.
Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.
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