Alabama called races faster than D.C. despite the same poll deadline

Voters in Alabama had election results within about an hour of polls closing on Tuesday, while Washington, D.C. had not yet started counting at the same point, even though both closed at 8 p.m. Eastern. According to the report, the Associated Press called Alabama races by 8:40 p.m. and 9:31 p.m., while D.C. did not begin counting until 10:47 p.m. Officials said long lines kept some polling places open late, and mail ballots plus rankedchoice voting added more time to the process. The slower pace in D.C. drew criticism from Republican figures and electionintegrity advocates, who argued that delayed counts can weaken public confidence. Local election officials said the timeline reflects ballot rules, verification steps, and the need to count every lawful vote.