When the polls close, 2 November.

[elperromagico]

Source: http://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/ARTICLES/ElectionNight2004/pe2004elecnighttime.php

Some states have multiple poll closing times because of local time zone differences.

All times EST.

6:00 p.m.
Indiana
Kentucky

7:00 p.m.
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Kentucky
New Hampshire
South Carolina
Vermont
Virginia

7:30 p.m.
North Carolina
Ohio
West Virginia

8:00 p.m.
Alabama
Connecticut
Delaware
D.C.
Florida
Illinois
Kansas
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Mississippi
Missouri
New Jersey
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas

8:30 p.m.
Arkansas

9:00 p.m.
Arizona
Colorado
Louisiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Nebraska
New Mexico
New York
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Texas
Wisconsin
Wyoming

10:00 p.m.
Idaho
Iowa
Montana
Nevada
North Dakota
Oregon
Utah

11:00 p.m.
California
Hawaii
Idaho
North Dakota
Oregon
Washington

12:00 a.m.
Alaska

1:00 a.m.
Alaska

[blackcat77]

1. Indiana -- first in the nation for the Republicans

And as a Hoosier Democrat, I say phooey...

Every single time, the network election coverage starts with a graphic of Indiana and the anchorman solemnly intoning that "Indiana with it's (whatever) electoral votes has gone for Republican (Whoever.)"

[elperromagico]

2. It's undoubtedly the most surprising part of the evening,

well - except for the "We now feel that we can safely say the District of Columbia has gone for Democrat (name here). Put down the porkchops and call the relatives, Aunt Mabel. Stick a fork in 'er, Uncle Carl, she's done."