This story has moved on: US voters head to polls for 2026 midterm elections

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 14:16 · Archive

Polls close from 23:00 GMT on Tuesday, with first results expected shortly after, though final outcomes may take days.

Millions of Americans are voting in midterm elections on Tuesday that could reshape the balance of power in Washington. The outcome determines which party—President Donald Trump's Republicans or the opposition Democrats—controls Congress. To win a majority in the House of Representatives, a party needs 218 seats. In the Senate, a party needs 51 seats for an outright majority, though if it is split 50-50, the vice-president has a tie-breaking vote.

First results will start to come in after polls close at 23:00 GMT (18:00 EST). However, these early returns will come from places considered safe for one party or the other, so they will not tell much about the overall outcome. Early competitive races that could provide indication of the electorate's mood include Senate contests in Ohio (polls close at 00:30 GMT) and Maine (01:00 GMT).

News organisations like The Associated Press analyse vote counts released by election officials and use models to project which way states have voted, even before the full count is complete. They make projections when they believe a party or candidate has gained an unbeatable lead. Some key contests might be called on election night, but closely-fought races could take hours or longer.

Results will continue to come in throughout Tuesday evening and Wednesday as more states finish voting and officials release vote counts. It might not be clear for days which party will control Congress in the final two years of Trump's presidency. Some races could take even longer: if, for example, the Senate race in Alaska requires a ranked-choice tabulation, the next round is scheduled for November 18.

How it is being reported

• When will we know the US midterms results?Once polls close, it is possible the results will not be projected for several hours, days or even weeksBBC News · 3 Nov, 07:56
• When will we know the US midterm election results?The first results are expected on Tuesday as polls begin to close at 23:00 GMT. But final results might take days.Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 07:27
• Your guide to the 2026 midterm elections: Everything you need to know about when voting closes and when we can expect the resultsClick here for everything you need to know about when the polls close, the top races to watch nationwide, and when we can expect overall results.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 19:00
• Here's how to watch election night as the polls close, hour-by-hourAs polls close on election night, here's a look at what to expect each hour and which midterm races are key to deciding control of Congress.NPR · 1 Nov, 09:00

In this story: United States · Congress · Donald Trump · Republicans · Democrats · House of Representatives · Senate

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