When will the Senate vote on whether Brett Kavanaugh will be a Supreme Court Justice?

The Republicans appear to have the votes to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, and the Senate’s up-or-down vote will take place this afternoon.

Though the vote was initially expected to take place around 5 p.m. EDT, CSPAN is reporting that the vote will take place between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m. An NBC reporter confirmed that timeframe.

Observing the full and customary 30 hours of Senate debate after a procedural vote, like Friday’s when Kavanaugh passed 51-49 on a general floor vote, would put the final Kavanaugh vote in the neighborhood of 4:45 to 5 p.m. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 30 hours of debate started Friday at 10:52 a.m.

But CSPAN reported that Senate rules would allow for a deal to move up the vote, so the vote could happen as early as 3:30 EDT. They must reach a “unanimous consent agreement,” agreeing that all senators have had a chance to have their say before the full 30 hours, according to CBS News.

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told CBS News earlier in the day Saturday that he expected the vote to take place between 4 and 5 p.m.

What will happen?

Republican Sens. Collins and Flake and red-state Democratic Sen. Manchin have all announced they will vote to confirm Kavanaugh, paving the way for what will likely be the judge’s confirmation.

If no senator changes his or her Friday vote, Kavanaugh will likely be confirmed by a 50-48 vote, as Sen. Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she will vote “present,” while still opposed to Kavanaugh’s confirmation, since Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, will be unable to make the vote as he attends his daughter’s wedding, according to NBC News.

How can I watch?

Cable news networks CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, and network television will air the vote.

You can also watch on CSPAN2 or the Senate’s official livestream.

This story was originally published October 6, 2018 at 8:14 AM with the headline "When will the Senate vote on whether Brett Kavanaugh will be a Supreme Court Justice?."