The 2024 European elections are set to conclude once Italian polls close tonight, with results starting to trickle in throughout the night. All member states are waiting for Italian citizens to cast their final ballots to avoid influencing ongoing voting. Polls in Italy opened on Saturday afternoon and will close at 11 pm, giving Italians more time than any other Europeans to vote. In contrast, Luxembourg, where voting is mandatory for those aged 75 or younger, will only have polling stations open for six hours, from 8 am to 2 pm. Other countries will close their polls at varying times throughout the evening.
Key moments to watch for tonight include polls closing in Luxembourg, Belgium, and Austria between 2 pm and 5 pm, followed by France and Germany at 6 pm. National exit polls are expected from 6 pm onwards, with the European Parliament projecting total MEPs based on data from 11 countries at 8.15 pm. Final results are expected around 1 am. The European Parliament will provide partial projections at 6.15 pm and a full projection at 8.15 pm based on exit polls and pre-election opinion polls. Euronews will be broadcasting live from the European Parliament starting at 5 pm CET.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, countries where voting has ended will release estimates of parties and political groups based on local exit polls and turnout data. Delays in the publication of results have been targeted by disinformation campaigns in some countries, such as Spain, where social media has falsely claimed “information blackouts” and government manipulation of results. However, the practice of waiting for all member states to vote before announcing official results has been standard in previous EU elections. Stay tuned for the latest news and results on Euronews’ election hub as reporters bring updates live from the European Parliament.
In summary, the 2024 European elections will culminate with the closing of Italian polls tonight, and results will gradually become available throughout the night. All member states are awaiting the conclusion of voting in Italy to ensure that ongoing voting is not influenced. Polling times vary across Europe, with Italy having extended hours for voting compared to other countries. Key moments to watch include polls closing in several countries, with national exit polls expected and final results projected by the European Parliament later in the evening.
The European Parliament will provide partial and full projections based on exit polls and pre-election opinion polls. Euronews will be broadcasting live coverage from the European Parliament starting in the afternoon. Disinformation campaigns have targeted delays in the publication of results in some countries, but the practice of waiting for all member states to vote before announcing official results has been a standard procedure in previous EU elections. Follow the latest news and updates on Euronews’ election hub as reporters provide live coverage from the European Parliament.
