Voting underway across the United States
Voters across the United States are heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and the direction of the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.
Polls opened in the early morning in most states, with voting hours varying by state and locality. In some eastern states, polls opened as early as 6 a.m. local time, while in others voting began later in the morning.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, along with 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships. Thousands of state legislative seats, mayoral races, ballot measures and local offices are also being decided.
More than 57 million votes already cast
More than 57 million ballots had already been cast before Election Day through early in-person voting and mail ballots, according to election officials and tracking data compiled from state reports.
That early total represents a substantial share of the expected overall turnout. Early voting has become a central feature of U.S. elections, with many states offering weeks of in-person early voting and no-excuse mail voting.
Election officials said early turnout was strong in several battleground states, where control of the House and Senate could hinge on a handful of competitive districts and races.
What is at stake
Control of Congress is the central prize. Democrats are aiming to win back the House, which would give them subpoena power, control of committees and the ability to block the Republican legislative agenda.
Republicans are defending narrow majorities in both chambers. Retaining the House and Senate would allow the party to continue advancing Trump’s agenda, including on taxes, immigration, energy and judicial appointments.
Governors’ races in 36 states will also shape policy on abortion, education, voting rules and state budgets for years to come.
Poll closing times and counting
Polls close at different times across the country. The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, followed by a wave of closings at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET across the East and Midwest. Polls in the West close later, with California, Oregon and Washington among the last states to close.
Results will be reported through the evening as votes are counted, but officials cautioned that many races may not be called on election night. Mail ballots, particularly in states that allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive later, can take days to count.
In close races, counting could extend well beyond Tuesday, as it has in recent election cycles. Election officials urged patience and said accuracy, not speed, is the priority.
Security and access
Election officials across the country said they have taken steps to ensure voting is secure and accessible, including staffing polling places, testing voting equipment and preparing for high turnout.
Voters who are in line when polls close are entitled to vote. Officials encouraged voters to check their polling place in advance, as locations can change.
Federal, state and local authorities said they were monitoring for any disruptions, but reported no widespread issues as voting got underway on Tuesday morning.
What happens after ballots close
Once polls close, election workers will begin counting ballots, including early votes that in many states can be processed before Election Day but not tabulated until polls close.
News organisations will project winners based on vote totals and exit polling, but official results will be certified by states in the days and weeks ahead.
The new Congress will be seated in January 2027, when the balance of power decided on Tuesday will take effect.
Sources: Associated Press; Reuters; U.S. Election Assistance Commission; state election officials.