The first polling stations have closed in the 2026 United States midterm elections, with voters across the country casting ballots in contests that could shape the final two years of President Donald Trump’s administration.
Parts of Indiana and Kentucky were the first to close their polling stations at 6pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, with further results expected as voting concludes across different states.
The elections are being closely watched as Democrats seek to gain control of both chambers of Congress, with competitive races in states including Michigan, Kansas and Texas.
The midterms are widely viewed as a referendum on Trump’s second term, with the economy, immigration enforcement and the ongoing conflict with Iran among the issues influencing voters.
Trump urged Americans to vote as though he himself were on the ballot, seeking to mobilise his supporters ahead of the elections. He warned that a Democratic victory could reverse his administration’s policies.
According to reporting cited by The New York Times, turnout appeared strong in several battleground states.
Voting disruptions reported in several states
Election officials have reported disruptions in some areas, including a technical problem in Westchester County that could affect up to 250,000 ballots.
In North Carolina, voting deadlines were extended in several counties after technical issues caused delays.
Sam Hayes, executive director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, said the problems were not caused by malicious activity.
He noted that common election-day disruptions can include power outages, tabulator problems, printer jams and longer-than-expected queues.
Meanwhile, flooding in Florida forced last-minute changes to polling arrangements, with some polling stations affected by torrential rain.
Early voting figures show strong participation
Data from the University of Florida indicated that just under 61 million Americans had voted early by 6pm Eastern Time on Election Day.
The figure represents approximately 30% of the estimated 210 million registered voters in the country.
The early voting total included 32.5 million in-person ballots and 28.5 million mail-in ballots.
The figures also showed that Democrats accounted for 43% of early votes, compared with 31% for registered Republicans. However, early voting patterns alone do not determine the eventual election outcome.
Michigan Senate race draws attention
Michigan is among the key battleground states attracting national attention, with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed facing Republican Mike Rogers.
El-Sayed made headlines after a heated exchange with Sky News journalist James Matthews, telling the reporter that he did not care about his questions because he was not registered to vote in the United States.
The Democratic candidate is seeking to secure the Senate seat in a contest that could influence the balance of power in Congress.
Trump addresses Iran conflict
The elections are also taking place against the backdrop of the conflict involving Iran.
Trump told the Financial Times that he had no immediate plans for further strikes against Iran, playing down speculation that his administration was preparing to escalate military action after the midterms.
His comments followed reports of explosions on Qeshm Island, a strategically important location near the Strait of Hormuz. US officials confirmed that an attack had taken place, according to the report.
Congressional control at stake
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate are being contested in the midterms.
A Democratic takeover of the House could lead to investigations into the Trump administration and its business dealings, while also raising the possibility of impeachment proceedings.
Control of the Senate would give Democrats the ability to influence or block presidential appointments, including Cabinet nominations and other senior administration positions.
However, even if Democrats secure control of both chambers, removing Trump from office through impeachment would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction.
With voting under way and the first polling stations already closed, attention is now turning to the results that will determine the balance of power in Washington and shape the remainder of Trump’s presidency.