When the polls close
See poll closing times for each state in local time. First results follow the earliest closings. The last main closings are at midnight on the East Coast.
| US Eastern time | Where you are | States |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana*, Kentucky* | ||
| Florida*, Georgia, New Hampshire†, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia | ||
| North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia | ||
| Alabama*, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas*†, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan*, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota*†, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota*, Tennessee*, Texas* | ||
| Arkansas | ||
| Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska*, New Mexico, New York, Wisconsin, Wyoming | ||
| Idaho*, Montana, Nevada, Utah | ||
| California, Oregon*, Washington | ||
| Alaska*, Hawaii |
* part of the state is in another time zone. † closing varies locally; earliest shown.
Source: Ballotpedia: state poll opening and closing times (2026) (October 31, 2026)
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Choose what to understand
Start with a diagram, then open the details.
- Midterms 2026Explore the topic
- Results nightExplore the topic
- Congress at workExplore the topic
- Concepts made simpleExplore the topic
- How government worksExplore the topic
- How the system changedExplore the topic
- Divided governmentExplore the topic
- The Supreme CourtExplore the topic
- How did my representative vote?Explore the topic
- Parties in CongressExplore the topic
- Sources and methodExplore the topic
The system in four numbers
- 435House of Representatives
- 100Senate
- 9Supreme Court justices
- 50States
Source: House: the House explained (October 30, 2026) · National Archives: Constitution (October 30, 2026) · Supreme Court: current members (October 30, 2026) · USAGov: states and territories (October 30, 2026)
Flip
In five of the eight midterms since 1994 the president's party lost its House majority. The number is that party's net loss of seats.
- 1994President's party: Democrats54 seats lostNew majority: Republicans
- 2006President's party: Republicans30 seats lostNew majority: Democrats
- 2010President's party: Democrats63 seats lostNew majority: Republicans
- 2018President's party: Republicans41 seats lostNew majority: Democrats
- 2022President's party: Democrats9 seats lostNew majority: Republicans
Source: The American Presidency Project: seats in Congress gained/lost by the president's party in midterm elections (October 31, 2026) · House History: party government (October 30, 2026)
Read more
A different House majority can change the Speaker, committee leadership and the oversight agenda. A bill still needs both chambers and the president, or a veto override.
Source: USAGov: branches of government (October 30, 2026) · National Archives: Constitution (October 30, 2026) · House: legislative process (October 30, 2026)
Divided governmentCompared with Israel
Same questions, different machinery. Each card links the Israeli atlas and this one.
Coalition versus trifecta
In Israel a government needs a Knesset majority built from several parties. In the United States one party can hold the House, the Senate and the presidency, or lose one of them and govern divided.
61 versus 218 and 51
Israel counts to 61 of 120 seats for one chamber. The United States counts twice: 218 of 435 in the House and 51 of 100 in the Senate.
No-confidence versus shutdown
The Knesset can replace a government with a constructive no-confidence vote. Congress cannot remove a president that way; its sharpest routine lever is the budget, and a lapse means a shutdown.
How did my representative vote?
Search the roll calls or use your state and district to find the members serving now.
What next?
Related concepts
- Midterm electionsCongressional elections halfway through a president’s term. The whole House and a third of the Senate, but not the presidency.
- House versus SenateTwo chambers, two clocks. 435 members for two years against 100 senators for six, and a law needs both.
- Redistricting and gerrymanderingEvery ten years the lines are redrawn. Who draws them can decide a seat before a single vote is cast.