US midterm elections: When polls close, when results emerge, and what is at stake

• Americans are voting in the 2026 midterm elections, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats up for grabs.
• The first polling stations close at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, or 2 a.m. Wednesday in Jordan, while the final results could take days to emerge.

Millions of Americans are heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, to vote in the 2026 midterm elections, a major political test for President Donald Trump and his Republican Party halfway through his second term.

The elections will determine the balance of power in Congress for the next two years, with Democrats seeking to regain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

But when do polling stations open and close? When will the first results emerge? And how long could it take to determine which party controls Congress?

Here is what to know:

What are the 2026 US midterm elections?

Midterm elections take place every four years, halfway through a president's four-year term. Unlike presidential elections, voters do not choose a president, but elect members of Congress and state-level officials.

This year's elections will determine:

• All 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
• Thirty-five of the 100 seats in the Senate.
• Governors in 36 states.
• Thousands of state legislative and local government positions.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress. Democrats are hoping to win enough seats to shift the balance of power and challenge Trump's legislative agenda during the final two years of his presidency.

Why are these elections important?
The outcome will determine how much political power Trump and his administration retain in Congress.

If Democrats win control of either chamber, they could block or reshape Republican legislation, launch congressional investigations and exercise greater oversight of the administration.

Republican victories, meanwhile, would strengthen the president's ability to advance his domestic and legislative priorities.

The Senate is particularly important because it confirms presidential nominations to federal positions, including Cabinet members and federal judges.

When do polling stations open?
Voting hours vary by state and local jurisdiction because the United States spans multiple time zones.

The earliest polling stations opened at 5 a.m. Eastern Time in Vermont, equivalent to 1 p.m. in Jordan.

Other states began voting later, with the final polling stations opening at noon Eastern Time in Hawaii, or 8 p.m. in Jordan.

More than 57 million Americans had already cast their ballots through early voting before Election Day, according to reports.

When do polls close?
Polling stations close in stages as Election Day progresses from the eastern United States toward the West Coast.

The first closures are scheduled for 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, equivalent to 2 a.m. Wednesday in Jordan.

The main closing schedule is as follows:

• 6 p.m. ET | 2 a.m. Jordan time: Parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
• 7 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. Jordan time: Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, and parts of Indiana, Kentucky and Florida.
• 7:30 p.m. ET | 3:30 a.m. Jordan time: North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.
• 8 p.m. ET | 4 a.m. Jordan time: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts and several other eastern states.
• 8:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 a.m. Jordan time: Arkansas.
• 9 p.m. ET | 5 a.m. Jordan time: Arizona, Michigan, Texas, New York, Wisconsin and several other states.
• 10 p.m. ET | 6 a.m. Jordan time: Nevada, Montana, Iowa and Utah.
• 11 p.m. ET | 7 a.m. Jordan time: California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
• Midnight ET | 8 a.m. Jordan time: Hawaii and most of Alaska.
• 1 a.m. ET Wednesday | 9 a.m. Jordan time: The final polling stations in Alaska.

Some states have multiple time zones, meaning polling stations within the same state may close at different times.

When will the first results be announced?
The first vote counts are expected shortly after the earliest polling stations close at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, or 2 a.m. Wednesday in Jordan.

Election officials will gradually release preliminary vote totals as ballots are counted and processed.

News organizations, including The Associated Press, will analyze the results and may project winners in individual races when the available evidence is sufficient.

However, the first results do not necessarily indicate the final outcome. Early counts may reflect only a portion of the votes, and subsequent updates can change the margins.

When will we know who controls Congress?
The outcome of some races could become clear during Election Night, but determining which party controls the House and Senate may take longer.

Several closely contested races could delay the overall picture, particularly if the margins are narrow or large numbers of mail-in ballots remain uncounted.

California, for example, has historically taken longer to count substantial numbers of mail-in ballots. Alaska could also face delays in its Senate race because of its ranked-choice voting system.

If Alaska's Senate contest requires another round of ranked-choice tabulation, that round is scheduled for November 18.

As a result, the balance of power in Congress could remain uncertain for days after Election Day.

Are election-night results final?
No. Results announced on election night are generally unofficial.

Election officials must complete several additional steps, including counting outstanding ballots, reconciling vote totals, conducting required audits and certifying the results.

Media organizations may project a winner before the official certification process is complete, but their projections are not legally binding results.

Close races may also trigger recounts or legal challenges, potentially extending the process.

What should viewers outside the United States expect?
For audiences in Jordan and the Middle East, the first significant results are expected from around 2 a.m. Wednesday, November 4.

More results will emerge throughout the early morning as polling stations close across the country.

By approximately 4–6 a.m. Jordan time, a substantial number of eastern and central states will have closed their polls. California and other western states will follow at around 7 a.m.

However, the final outcome may take days to establish, particularly in closely contested congressional races.

The 2026 midterms will therefore be more than a test of individual candidates: they will determine whether Trump retains a Republican-controlled Congress or faces a Democratic majority capable of reshaping the political landscape during the remainder of his presidency.