TPM’s handy closing times map shows you which states will be called when. Some key times/states (ie when their polls close and they’ll start calling them – UK time) are:

11pm – Indiana, Kentucky

12am – Florida (some), Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia

12.30am – North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia

1am – lots, including Pennsylvania, Montana, Missouri and North Dakota

2am – lots, including Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Minnesota

3am – several, including Nevada and Iowa

4am – California, Oregon and Washington

5am – Alaska

According to polling guru Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight.com, the five states to watch are Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Nevada. “Essentially all relevant electoral scenarios involve some combination of these five states,” he writes here.

Chuck Todd gives his state-by-state guide here – while MSNBC also has a very useful piece on what to look for as the results start coming in. For example:

“7pm… Pay particular attention to Indiana and Virginia… You can posit to the party-goers that they are in for a Democratic “wave” if NBC News projects that Sen. Barack Obama has won Indiana and Virginia… But if the night begins with a McCain win in Virginia, then it’s shaping up as a longer night than most Democrats expect (read: If you’re a Dem, now’s the time you may want to switch from beer to coffee)…

At 7:30 p.m., North Carolina and Ohio polls close. At the simplest level it’s hard to devise a plausible scenario in which McCain loses Ohio and still manages to win the presidency. Based on recent polling, the current electoral math just doesn’t add up for McCain without a win in Ohio. Similarly, an Obama victory in North Carolina would seem to seal McCain’s fate…

8pm: A McCain win in Pennsylvania would defy expectations. It would also signal polling there at the start of this week was either wrong or outdated. And if polling was wrong there, where else was it wrong?

9pm… Also closing at 9 is Colorado. If the presidential race is still up in the air, the outcome could hinge on Colorado…”

And so on. You get the idea. Highly useful, and I may well just print out a copy to crib on the bus as I head into town for the election night party…

Sky News: 11pm – 6am

BBC1: 11.45pm – 6am

ITV1: 11.45pm -6am

CNN: 12am – 6am

Fox News (if you must – well, it might be fun to watch Hannity and O’Reilly spitting blood): 10pm – uncertain. As in I’m uncertain, not them. According to Sky TV’s official listings, they’re showing Bill O’Reilly and Hannity & Colmes throughout the night – but clearly that can’t be right. Can it?

The wonderful Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are also doing a Daily Show election night special together – which I’m imagining will show as usual on More4, ie the day after it’s broadcast in the States. ie. The election night show will actually be shown in the UK on Wednesday night.

Oh, and here’s the lovely Carly on The Today Show with some “very fun” food, drink and games ideas for your election night party (doesn’t include ‘McCain Hard Cheese With Sour Grapes’ or ‘Pin the smear on the Democratic candidate’):

Listed below are some places where you can watch the results coming in in the company of fellow election geeks, and shout “cooom onnnnnn!” in an Oasis-style voice without being looked at like you’re a weirdo. Just click on each event’s header below to be taken to its website – and click here for details of even more parties. (Note: we’re drawing a blank on events outside of London – so if you know of any, please do tell us via a comment below.)

London election night parties

UK Obama supporters election night party
Venue: The Hoop and Toy, London SW7
Cost: £35 if you book by Sunday, otherwise £45. All-night buffet, first drink free, champagne toast (presumably when Obama’s announced as President. Not every time a state wins. Otherwise everyone would be far too drunk far too early).
Time: 9pm – 9am. No, really.
Details: Hosted by the UK Obama For President group/Americans Abroad (see flyer above), this will be the biggest party going on for Obama supporters in London that night, so no fear of bumping into any Republicans – yay! It’s an all-nighter, with TV coverage over three floors.

Progressive Vision’s US election night party
Venue: Yates’s, Leicester Square, London WC2
Cost: £35 (American food and £10 drink voucher included)/VIP tickets £100
Time: 8pm – 4am
Details: Despite its name, this is actually a bipartisan (bi)party which is likely to be the biggest election night bash in the UK. So yes, there will probably be Republicans there. Although quite why they’d want to be out in public that night is beyond me. Hey ho.

London expat Americans group election night party
Venue: The Light (near Liverpool Street), London E1
Cost: Free
Time: 7.45pm ’til late
Details: Another big gathering, this one’s bound to be mostly Americans (see clue in the title). Don’t worry, guys – after November 5th, it’ll be safe to go back!

Sun And Doves US election live!
Venue: Sun And Doves, Camberwell, London SE5
Cost: Free
Time: 8pm til midnight  (although possibly later if the crowd’s big).
Details: There’ll be election night coverage after their regular free Tuesday night film screening (which this week will be Brokeback Mountain), so it kicks off around 9.45pm. They’ll also be putting on American-themed menu.

Obama Volunteers election night party
Venue: The Flea Pit, London E2
Cost: Free
Time: 10 pm til late
Details: Hosted by Obama volunteers at a trendy East London venue (it even has an ironic name!), there’ll be a cash bar and snacks throughout the evening. Admission free, but RSVP required to everyone@thefleapit.com.

Chicago Rib Shack’s 56th US election viewing party
Venue: Chicago Rib Shack, Knightsbridge, London SW1X
Cost: £25
Time: 8pm – 6:30am
Details: (Love the title – rather like calling it ‘the 78th Academy Awards’.) They’ll be serving a late supper (1:00am) and breakfast (6:30am). And presumably there’ll be an extra-big whoop when the results from Illinois are announced.

Are we missing something?

Literally? If you’re hosting an election night event (I mean: outside of your sitting room), or just going to one (outside of someone else’s sitting room), feel free to list it by adding a comment below.