Voters Cast Ballots in 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections

Voters across the United States are casting ballots in the 2026 midterm elections to decide control of the U.S. House and Senate. Democrats must flip four seats in the Senate and three seats in the House to wrest control of the chambers from Republicans.

Election Results and Key Races

The Associated Press has made its first Senate race call of the night, declaring Democratic Sen. Mark Warner reelected in Virginia, defeating Republican Bert Mizusawa. In Florida’s 20th Congressional District, Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz won reelection to the U.S. House, defeating Republican Brent Andersen.

Other key contests include:

• Senate: Contests in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, and Texas.
• House: Battlegrounds are scattered across the country, including Florida's 9th and 14th Districts, where Democratic Reps. Darren Soto and Kathy Castor are defending their seats.

Reported Voting Issues

While many reports indicate voting has proceeded relatively smoothly, several technical and logistical issues were reported:

• New York: In Westchester county, voting machines were unable to scan as many as 250,000 ballots at 332 polling locations. Kenneth Jenkins, the Westchester county executive, stated that voters were directed to use emergency ballots.
• Kansas: A polling place ran out of ballots due to a county clerk error where 100 paper ballots were ordered instead of 100,000.
• Tennessee: Voters reported concerns regarding touch screen voting machines that reportedly select Republican candidates when voters attempt to select Democratic candidates.
• Georgia: Officials requested permission to rescan more than 1,000 early votes due to malfunctions with two scanners.
• Navajo Nation: Flooding in Rock Point, Arizona, closed a major bridge and washed out dirt roads, preventing hundreds of voters from reaching the polls.

Ballot Measures and Voter Issues

In addition to congressional races, voters are deciding on 145 proposed laws and constitutional amendments. Key measures include:

• Abortion Rights: Missouri voters are deciding whether to repeal a 2024 abortion rights amendment and replace it with a new prohibition. In Idaho and Nevada, measures would block bans on abortion before fetal viability.
• Voter ID: Citizen activists in California, Colorado, and Nevada have placed new voter ID requirements on the ballot.
• Transgender Restrictions: Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Washington are considering measures restricting transgender athletes or medical procedures.

According to an AP Voter Poll, the economy and the state of democracy are top issues for voters. The poll also found that most voters are dissatisfied or angry with the country's direction.

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Sources

• apnews.com: Midterm elections live updates: Democrats win Senate race in Virginia | AP News
• theglobeandmail.com: U.S. states to vote on key midterm ballot measures including abortion and voter ID mandates - The Globe and Mail
• theguardian.com: US midterm voting goes smoothly with only a handful of issues nationwide | US midterm elections 2026 | The Guardian
• voachinese.com (in Chinese): Observing the US Midterm Elections: Foreign Diplomats Call It an "Extremely Educational" Experience

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.