Super Tuesday Viewers' Guide: What to Watch for (and When) in Tonight's SEC Primary

DALLAS, Texas — Today is the most important day of the 2016 race so far, and voters are already casting ballots in more than a dozen primaries across the nation.

After the early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, 12 states and American Samoa will cast their votes today.

For the Republicans, there are 595 delegates up for grabs in 11 states on Super Tuesday. Texas is the largest and most important battleground for Republicans on Tuesday, with 155 delegates at stake.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has a lead in the Lone Star State, according to recent polls, but needs 50 percent of the vote to earn all of the state's 155 delegates — a tall order. If not, the state's delegates will be awarded proportionally.

Currently, businessman Donald Trump leads the delegate count with 82 delegates. Cruz has 17 delegates and Sen. Marco Rubio has 16.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has 91 delegates, compared to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' 62. But when you add superdelegates, Clinton has 544 delegates compared to Sanders' 85.

Democrats also vote in the same 11 states as Republicans, plus Colorado and American Samoa.

Results timing (Eastern):

4 p.m. — Polls close in American Samoa (Democrats only)

7 p.m. — Polls close in Georgia, Vermont and Virginia

8 p.m. — Polls close in Alabama, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Tennessee

8:30 p.m. — Polls close in Arkansas

9 p.m. — Polls close in Colorado (Democrats only), Minnesota and Texas

Midnight — Polls close in Alaska

Calls could be made at any point after the polls close, depending on how close the early returns are.

Follow along with our live coverage here.

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