UPDATE: Nov. 4,Deborah Driggs Archives 2020, 4:33 p.m. ET Election coverage continues Wednesday as we wait for more votes to be counted in several states.
While some livestream and podcast options have taken a break or ended, most newspaper live blogs and news stations, like CNN and Fox News, are still going strong. Of course, social media continues to buzz with posts about updates and analysis.
While it's likely we won't know the results of the presidential election until after Election Day, as soon as the polls close Tuesday evening, we'll at least start getting some preliminary info.
You can blame the pandemic for the probable delay, since a lot of voting was done through mail-in ballots.
You can still turn to the more "traditional" Election Day viewing option: Turn a TV on to the news. All major cable and broadcast news networks will have Election Day coverage blaring deep into the night. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone, tablet, or streaming stick to watch the initial returns come in.
For those of you anxiously tracking what's happening from your computers and devices, you have plenty of viewing choices.
Live blogs and homepages
The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Guardian, and Los Angeles Timeswill all have live updating coverage throughout the day and into the night.
CNN.com’s homepage, along with FoxNews, PBS NewsHour, and PBS, will have streams available front and center.
Streaming platforms
The Roku Channelon Roku devices offers streams from ABC News, Yahoo!, and USA Today. Google Chromecastis connected to the YouTube app, along with other news apps. Amazon's Fire TV and Stick, Apple TV, and Xbox and PlayStation consoles will all have access to apps and news channels that will be streaming election coverage.
You won't need a cable log-in for CNN's coverage (starting Tuesday at 9 a.m. ET and running through Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET). It'll be available on the CNNgo app on all streaming devices. It's the same situation with the PBS Newshour Video app.
YouTube and social media
Twitch (like the Trump and Biden official streams), Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube are all platforms that news organizations, political groups, and others will use to share news as it comes in. On Twitter, follow the hashtag #Election2020. Facebook and Instagram are also using that hashtag, but limiting which posts come up to slow the spread of misinformation.
PBS NewsHour will have coverage available on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. C-SPAN's YouTube page will also stream election night results starting at 9 p.m. ET.
Live TV services
News programming about the election will be aired on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, and MSNBC for regular TV viewers. For online viewing, these (paid) services in the U.S. have these channels available:
Sling TV: CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News on Sling Blue. Bloomberg, Newsy, and Cheddar on Sling Orange (you can watch ABC News Live on the free tier or add the News Extra combo to either package for HLN and BBC World News, or Fox Business and CNBC)
fuboTV: Fox News, CNBC, MSNBC, Cheddar News, Newsy, and Univision
Hulu+ Live TV: ABC News Live, CBS, Cheddar Business, CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Fox Business, and Telemundo
YouTube TV: ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, Cheddar, Fox News, Fox Business, Newsy, and Telemundo
News apps — iOS and Android
Most news apps on iOS and Android devices will have election results available, but some apps may require a cable login for viewing access:
Univision
ABC News
CBS News
NBC News/Peacock
CNN
Fox News
Reuters TV
PBS Video
NPR
If those options sound too stressful, not to worry: You have some alternatives.
For those who just want an alert
Instead of watching pundits or live coverage outside of polling stations, the Guardian U.S. app is sending alerts with result updates. You don't even have to open the app to see the latest. Just open the notification for a quick glimpse at the numbers.
For people who want to laugh
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will be airing a pre-show all day on its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch accounts. Then at 11 p.m. ET, Stephen Colbert's Late Night Special airs on Showtime.
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For anyone who's beyond words
Instead of posts, graphs, and talking heads, experience the election through GIFs. Giphy has an entire election portal.
Via GiphyFor those looking for party camaraderie
Democratic and Republican virtual party watch parties are popping up in communities all over. For example, the Arlington Dems in Virginia are hosting a viewing party online. Meanwhile, apparently not worried about spreading COVID-19, the Tulsa County Republican Party is hosting an IRL event in the middle of a pandemic.
Check with your local and state Democratic and Republican organizations for Election Day plans online. The Biden and Trump campaigns will also be posting on their respective social media channels.
For people who love AOC
The Democratic Socialists of America will host a Zoom, Facebook, and YouTube stream for like-minded voters starting at 9 p.m. ET on Election Day.
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For podcast fans
In The Thick
This podcast about "politics, race, and culture from a POC perspective" starts a six-hour live broadcast starting on Election Day at 6 p.m. ET.
The Daily
TheNew York Timespodcast will be hosting a special live four-hour show, the first time the show has been live. It starts at 4 p.m. ET on Election Day.
The Young Turks
Their progressive coverage kicks off on YouTube and other platforms starting at 1 p.m. ET and continues for 13 hours.
The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder
Available on YouTube and the usual podcast sources, the Majority Report is going live for 12 hours on Election Day, from noon to midnight ET.
For Americans — or anyone who's interested — living abroad
The Guardian has a guide for those in Australia who want to follow along with the political spectacle. There are IRL watch parties in some cities and, of course, plenty of livestreams to tune into.
In the UK, the BBC has a radio coverage plan, with BBC Radio 4 airing the election from 11 p.m. GMT on Election Day through 6 a.m. the next morning and on Radio 5 Live from midnight GMT to 5 a.m. GMT on Wednesday.
For Green Party loyalists
At 7 p.m. ET, the Green Party's social media pages (including its Facebook page) will livestream returns.
For anyone who just can’t deal
OK, so these options aren't going to give you any substantive news about the election, but at least you can chill out.
NowThis and Calm
Video news site NowThis is partnering with meditation app Calm to offer breath work and meditation sessions on its Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Election Day.
Pussyhat Virtual Knit-Along
Instead of obsessively tallying votes, join the knitting group behind the Pussyhat movement for an hour or just a few minutes on a Zoom call at 7 p.m. ET on Election Day.
Organizers said there will be discussions about the election, but also a meditation session "to help ground us throughout all this uncertainty."
Go offline
If you don't want to stream at all, you can turn off your devices, or at least notifications, and do something that's not election-related at all. Just like the rest of us, you'll eventuallyfind out who was elected as the next U.S. president.
Topics Politics
