Politics

What time do polls open and close in the US midterm elections 2026?

AI SUMMARY

More than 230 million eligible voters head to the polls across the US for the 2026 midterms, where voting hours and result timelines vary by state.

More than 230 million eligible voters are eligible to participate in the US midterm elections.
All 435 House of Representatives seats, 35 Senate seats, and governors in 36 states are being contested.
Republicans currently hold both chambers of Congress.
Voting hours are determined and set individually by each state.
The first polls open in Vermont at 5am (10:00 GMT), followed by New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, and Kentucky at 6am (11:00 GMT).
Polls close in waves, with the earliest closures at 6pm (23:00 GMT) in Indiana and Kentucky, and Alaska closing last at around 1am Eastern Time (06:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Senate Democrats need a net gain of four seats and House Democrats need three seats to reach majorities.
Voters can cast ballots by mail, early, or in person on election day, and final tallies may take days or weeks.