America Votes: 435 House Seats, 35 Senate Seats & 36 Governorships At Stake
By SUSAN ESSEX
Polls Open Across US as Midterm Elections Begin
POLLING stations have opened across eastern parts of the United States as voters begin casting ballots in midterm elections that will determine the composition of Congress and several state and local governments.
The elections will decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 seats in the Senate and governorships in 36 states. In addition, Americans will elect state lawmakers and local officials, while some states will vote on policy-related referendums.
Voting Begins in Stages Across States
Voting started at 6 am local time, equivalent to 11:00 GMT, in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia, as well as parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
Meanwhile, polling stations in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia opened at 6:30 am Eastern Time, or 11:30 GMT.
A wider round of voting commenced at 7 am Eastern Time, corresponding to 12:00 GMT, in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, most of Rhode Island, South Carolina, and eastern parts of Florida and Michigan.
At the same time, polling stations opened at 6 am Central Time in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and western parts of Indiana and Kentucky.
Control of Congress in Focus
The election carries significant political implications because Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress. However, Democrats are seeking to win control of at least one chamber.
Such a shift could limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda, making the congressional contests a major focus of the nationwide vote.
Beyond Congress, the governorships, state legislative seats and local offices at stake will also shape political leadership and policy decisions across the country.
Polling Continues Across Time Zones
Voting will continue throughout Tuesday as polling stations operate across multiple time zones.
The first scheduled regular poll closings are expected at 6 pm Eastern Time. However, the staggered opening and closing times mean that voting will conclude at different hours across the country.
