US Election Day: what's at stake, when polls close and when to expect results
Americans vote today for control of Congress. Polls favour Democrats in the House while the Senate is a toss-up, and close races could take days to call.
In this article
Polls are open across the United States today, Tuesday, November 3, in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress for the last two years of President Donald Trump's term.
What's on the ballot
All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate are being contested, along with governorships and state legislatures across the country.
Republicans control both chambers. Final polls point to strong momentum for Democrats, who are favoured to win the House. The Senate, where Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats and need 50 to keep control thanks to Vice President JD Vance's tie-breaking vote, is seen as a toss-up.
Races to watch
- Iowa: Republican Ashley Hinson led Democrat Josh Turek by only about two points in recent polls.
- Michigan: the race was shaken up when Democrat Haley Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers.
- Alaska: a federal judge on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to block certification if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola.
- Ohio, Kansas, North Carolina and Texas are also closely watched Senate contests.
The final push
Trump held rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, and Vance campaigned in his home state of Ohio on Monday. The Justice Department said it would send election monitors to polling places in Philadelphia and three other Pennsylvania counties.
When polls close
Poll hours vary by state. The first polls close at 7pm Eastern Time (midnight GMT) and the last, in Alaska and Hawaii, at 1am Eastern. In most states, voters who are in line when polls close are still allowed to vote.
When results arrive
The first projections usually come within hours of polls closing in each state. But close races, especially in states that count mail ballots after Election Day or use ranked-choice voting, such as Alaska, may take days to call. Control of the Senate could remain uncertain into Wednesday or beyond.
Why the world is watching
The result will shape how much room Trump has to act on the war with Iran, support for Ukraine, trade tariffs and foreign aid, issues that affect countries far beyond the United States.
Sources and references
- 1.2026 midterm elections: When polls close, when results are expected — The Hill
- 2.Pennsylvania election 2026 live updates — The Philadelphia Inquirer
- 3.Monday morning news: November 2, 2026 — WORLD
- 4.Decision 2026: What to know ahead of Election Day Nov. 3 — WEAU
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Format: Explainer