US voters head to polls for 2026 midterm elections

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 3 Nov, 09:47 · Archive

More than 230 million eligible voters in the United States are voting on Tuesday to elect all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and governors in 36 states.

Over 230 million eligible voters are casting ballots on Tuesday in midterm elections to decide representation in Congress and governors across the United States. All 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 of the Senate's 100 seats are being contested. Voters in 36 states will also elect governors. Republicans currently hold both chambers.

Polling times vary by state. Vermont opens earliest at 5am Eastern Time, followed by Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Virginia at 6am. Alaska and Washington are among the latest to open, at 11am and 12pm respectively. The earliest polls close at 6pm Eastern Time in Indiana and Kentucky, while Alaska closes last at around 1am Eastern Time on Wednesday.

Early voting has been substantial, with over 57 million voters having cast ballots already. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia offer early voting options, though Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire do not. Eight states and Washington, D.C., automatically send mail-in ballots to registered voters. Results will begin appearing as polls close on Tuesday evening, continuing into Wednesday. However, closely contested races could take hours or even days to call, as election officials process ballots and news organisations analyse results to determine winners.

How it is being reported

• US midterm elections live: Polls due to open in test for TrumpThe 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, 10:10
• Here's when polls open and close for 2026 midterm elections todayIf you are in line to cast your ballot before a polling site closes, you have the right to remain in line and vote.CBS News · 3 Nov, 09:30
• What time do polls open and close in the US midterm elections 2026?The first polls are set to open in Vermont at 5am (10:00 GMT).Al Jazeera · 3 Nov, 04:52

In this story: United States · Vermont · Alaska · Republicans · Congress

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log