Live updates on the U.S. midterms: A malfunction in the voting scanner in Westchester affects New York's 17th Congressional District; the first batch of polling stations closed at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
November 3, 2026, 15:25:01 UTC
2026 Florida Governor's Election: After DeSantis withdraws, Byron Donnazus faces David Jolly
Voters in Florida are choosing the successor to Governor Ron DeSantis. Due to term limits, he cannot run for a third term and will step down in January next year.
Republican Federal Congressman Byron Donnells is attempting to keep the governor's mansion under Republican control. His opponent is former congressman and more centrist Democrat David Jolly, whose race is turning out to be closer than expected.
DeSantis's record as a staunch conservative is expected to influence the election results. Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, told Al Jazeera that DeSantis's stance has alienated some voters. Jewett said that the vote counting results will show whether this change is sufficient to alter the final outcome.
November 3, 2026, 15:13:13 UTC
What will be decided by today's vote? The midterms in 2026 will determine control of Congress.
Millions of Americans voted on Tuesday to decide which political party will control Congress during the last two years of President Donald Trump's term.
The Republican Party currently holds the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Democratic Party hopes to win enough seats to take control of both chambers.
This election involves all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate, in addition to 36 gubernatorial elections and state referendum issues.
If the Democratic Party controls Congress, it could block Trump's agenda and launch investigations against the president and his team. BBC North American journalist Anthony Zuckerman writes that this could include another attempt to impeach Trump.
November 3, 2026, 14:46:33 UTC
Floods disrupt mid-term elections in the United States, affecting Florida, Utah, and Arizona
Severe weather is complicating the election day arrangements in multiple states.
BBC reports that, following a series of floods, officials in Florida have relocated some polling stations. In Utah, officials issued an emergency order early on Tuesday, allowing voters in San Juan County to submit their ballots electronically when floods prevented them from traveling to polling stations.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on Monday following storms and flash floods. Hobbs stated that this order will provide authorities with the necessary resources to clear roads, repair infrastructure, and assist displaced residents.
Voters in affected areas should confirm with their county election offices before setting out, as the voting locations may have been changed.
November 3, 2026, 14:46:33 UTC
2026 Michigan Senate Election: As voting begins, El-Sayed and Rogers enter the final sprint
Democrats Abdul El-Sayed and Republicans Mike Rogers released their final campaign messages on the X platform on Tuesday. The Senate election in Michigan is one of the most closely watched races in these midterms.
El-Said shared a video compilation of the campaign, which included footage of him appearing on stage with former President Barack Obama, and told his supporters that the whole world was paying attention to this election. Rogers, on the other hand, called on his supporters to “save this state” and released videos of interviews with voters. In one of these videos, a supporter referred to El-Said as an “extremist.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after voting in Brooklyn that El-Sayed would win because he focuses on the issue of living costs. Al Jazeera reported that Democrat Haley Stevens supported Rogers. When asked about this, Schumer stated, "Haley Stevens is just one vote."
November 3, 2026, 14:46:33 UTC
Worcester County voting machine malfunction: Thicker paper ballots get stuck in the scanner
Votership scanners in various locations of Westchester County, New York, began to reject paper ballots shortly after polling stations opened on Tuesday.
Local media quoted the county election committee as saying that the ballots were too thick to be accepted by the machines. The Westminster County government posted on platform X that all ballots would be properly kept and counted.
The county government also stated that the Election Commission is maintaining continuous contact with officials from New York State to resolve this issue. Voters are requested to continue lining up and fill out paper ballots as instructed by the staff at the polling stations. The Election Commission said they are making efforts to minimize any disruptions.
November 3, 2026, 14:46:33 UTC
When do the polling stations open? The U.S. midterms begin in Vermont and move westward.
The 2026 U.S. midterms began at 5 a.m. Eastern Time (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, with the first polling stations opening in Vermont.
One hour later, voting began in New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, as well as parts of Kentucky and Indiana. By 9 a.m. Eastern Time (14:00 Greenwich Mean Time), polling stations in Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado were also open for voting.
The voting hours and closing times vary from state to state, therefore voters should inquire with the election offices of their respective states or counties. This election covers all 435 House of Representatives seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats, as well as gubernatorial elections in 36 states. Results are expected to begin to come in on Tuesday evening, US time.
