Investing.com – As election night approaches, November 5 is expected to be a critical evening for investors as they monitor how political changes could affect markets.

For the presidency, most signs point to clarity within days of election night. Despite the close polls in battleground states, Wolfe Research expects that unless results solidify in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, we will see decisive trends by midweek unless either candidate performs unexpectedly well in key states.

However, reporting will likely take longer in those two states because rules prohibit early mail-in ballot processing, meaning a close result there could delay the final vote until all ballots are counted.

The Senate, on the other hand, should decide more quickly. A Republican majority is widely expected, except for a few close races, particularly in Texas, where Democratic candidate Colin Allred is challenging Republican incumbent Ted Cruz.

If the race in Texas turns unexpectedly close, it could delay Senate results, although other swing states with long-term Democratic hopes, such as Montana and Florida, are expected to wrap up their races on election night.

However, given the tight races and lengthy vote-counting procedures in key districts, the House of Representatives is likely to take the longest to finalize the decision. Some states, like California, have deadlines that extend the collection and counting of mail-in ballots.

Based on previous cycles, Wolfe analysts expect it could take about a week to determine the majority in the House if margins are tight. However, if there are only a handful of seats, it could take several weeks for the final count to determine control of the chamber.

With staggered poll deadlines, early signals will come from counties and congressional districts that can shed light on broader national trends. The earliest results include Indiana and Kentucky closing at 6 p.m. ET, with Hamilton County in Indiana a key benchmark.

Voting patterns in Hamilton County's suburbs, which have traditionally leaned Republican, will be particularly telling if Democratic candidate Kamala Harris exceeds expectations there and signals strength in suburban areas where the GOP typically performs well.

Georgia and Virginia, which close at 7 p.m. ET, will also be among the first lead states. Key counties to monitor include Gwinnett and Cobb in Georgia, reflecting both the growing diversity and changing demographics in the Atlanta suburbs.

Any overture to Trump in these areas could indicate that his platform is gaining broader support in suburban regions, which would be critical to securing swing states across the Sun Belt.

In Virginia, two congressional districts – VA-2 and VA-7 – will also show larger trends. Virginia's 2nd District, historically a military-heavy and competitive seat, is a possible early sign of a stronger-than-expected Democratic showing if Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal does well against Republican incumbent Jen Kiggans.

On the other side of the state, VA-7 could reveal Republican strength if the GOP flips the open seat with retiring Democrat Abigail Spanberger, which would be a signal of Republican momentum in key battlegrounds.

As results move into the Midwest, Kent and Oakland counties in Michigan will be focal points for measuring results in the critical blue wall states. Kent County, traditionally conservative but recently trending Democratic, could be the first sign of change for both candidates.

Oakland, a suburban hub in Michigan, saw a strong Democratic surge in 2020, so a swing toward the GOP here could signal a greater challenge for Democrats across the Midwest.

If a decisive trend were to emerge early, it would be due to shifts in key states with traditionally mixed results.

A strong Trump result would likely manifest more strongly than expected in Georgia and North Carolina, which would then portend a win in Michigan and solidify his path to the White House.

If Harris unexpectedly gains ground in states like Georgia or North Carolina, especially by small but significant margins, that could portend an overall victory, even if the Midwest battlegrounds remain in play.

As Wolfe analysts noted, this cycle is expected to have fewer significant legal changes or disputes that could affect results, especially given the precedents set by 2020 and the actions embattled states have taken since then to streamline certification .

While Georgia has introduced stricter procedural requirements, recent court rulings have struck down rules that were seen as potential delays. Wolfe analysts remain confident that the election results certified after Election Day will stand, barring an unprecedented challenge.

For investors looking for timely updates, election analysts recommend following credible Twitter/X sources for real-time results and analysis.