More than 57 million ballots had been cast early across 47 states and Washington, DC, before Americans went to the polls on Tuesday, 3 November, for the 2026 midterm elections, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The tally, covering early in-person voting and mail-in ballots as of Monday, the night before Election Day, is well above the same point in the last midterms. The AP comparison puts just under 44.5 million ballots cast across 49 states and Washington, DC, at the corresponding stage in 2022. The 57-million figure alone also exceeds the roughly 45 million early votes cast in the whole of the 2022 midterms, according to Reuters.
The University of Florida Election Lab reported a similar total of more than 57 million early ballots as of Monday, corroborating the scale of early turnout, though its state coverage and counting method differ slightly from the AP analysis. Readers should treat the headline figure as an analysis total, not an official certified count.
What is at stake on 3 November
All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and governorships in 36 states are on the ballot. The election is widely read as a verdict on President Donald Trump’s second presidency, fought over living costs, immigration, healthcare and the war against Iran, among other issues.
Democrats need a net gain of three House seats to take control of the chamber, according to ABC News, and a net gain of four Senate seats to win the Senate. Forecasts before polling day pointed to a Democratic House majority, but Senate control was seen as much closer, and polls are not results.
What the early-vote split does — and does not — show
Early-vote data reported by NBC News put Democrats at 46% and Republicans at 39% of early voters, with the rest unaffiliated or from other parties. That split describes who voted early in states that report party registration; it does not predict the final result, because Election Day voting, mail ballots still to arrive where allowed, and voters in states without party registration are not fully captured.
Analysts quoted by Reuters also cautioned that higher early turnout by one party’s supporters does not by itself decide an election. Turnout on Election Day itself, and how late-counted ballots break, can change the picture, particularly in close Senate and governor races.
How Election Day unfolds
Polls opened first in parts of Vermont at 5 am Eastern Time, with voting under way across eastern states from 6 am. The first polls close at 6 pm Eastern Time, with results reported through the night as states count ballots. Control of Congress may not be clear on election night if key races are close or if mail ballots take days to count.
Voters in states including Georgia, Ohio, Michigan and Florida are also deciding high-profile governor and Senate races that have drawn national attention in the final days of campaigning.
What happens next
Once polls close, attention turns to the count in battleground states and to whether either party reaches the thresholds for House and Senate control. Any disputes over ballot counting, which featured in earlier election cycles, would be reported as claims and legal developments, not assumed outcomes.
This article will be updated as results are confirmed; early-vote totals are not final vote totals.
Frequently asked questions
How many people voted early in the 2026 US midterms? More than 57 million ballots across 47 states and Washington, DC, as of Monday, according to an AP analysis.
Is that a record for a midterm? Yes, at this stage: it is above the just-under-44.5 million at the same point in 2022, and above the roughly 45 million early votes cast in all of 2022.
Does an early-vote lead mean a party has won? No. Early-vote party splits describe who voted early in reporting states; Election Day votes and late-counted ballots can change the outcome.
Sources
- Outlook India / AP, US Midterm Elections 2026 live, 3 November 2026: https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/international/us-midterm-election-2026-live-senate-house-race-donald-trump-jd-vance-democrats-republicans-result-latest-updates
- Channel News Asia / Reuters, tensions rise as midterm campaign ends, 3 November 2026: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-midterms-campaign-ends-congress-house-senate-6514236
- Mathrubhumi, US midterm elections explainer, 3 November 2026: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/us-midterm-elections-trump-democrats-congress-aexi3rd8
- Jerusalem Post / Reuters, everything you need to know about the November 3 US midterm elections, 3 November 2026: https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-913634
- Related Emadan coverage: https://emadan.store/us-midterm-early-voting-passes-53-million/ , https://emadan.store/us-midterm-early-voting-record-47-9-million-2022/ , https://emadan.store/us-midterms-43-million-early-ballots-october-29/
File photos only: any images used with this article are generic file photos, captioned as such, and do not depict a specific voter or ballot in this election.
