The 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. There is no presidential race on the ballot this year. Instead, voters will decide all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, 36 governorships, and thousands of state and local offices. The results will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of the current presidential term — which is why, even without a presidential contest, these races shape what Washington can actually get done.
With Election Day just weeks away, early voting is already open in many states and some voter registration deadlines have passed. Here are the dates, the ballot breakdown, and how to make sure your vote counts.
When Are the 2026 Midterms?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Under federal law, Election Day falls on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, and 2026’s date was fixed by that rule years in advance. Poll opening hours vary by state — and sometimes by county — so check your state election office’s site for the exact hours where you vote. If you can’t make it on the day itself, most states offer early in-person voting or mail/absentee ballots, and early voting is already underway across much of the country.
What “Midterm” Actually Means
A midterm election falls halfway through a U.S. president’s four-year term. The president is not on the ballot. The contest is for Congress plus state offices like governors, and it functions as the country’s verdict on the first half of a presidency.
That verdict has a long track record: historically, the president’s party often loses congressional seats in midterm elections, which is why control of the House and Senate is usually the headline story. Fewer people vote in midterms than in presidential years — over the past six decades, presidential elections have generally drawn about 50 to 60 percent of eligible voters compared with roughly 40 percent in midterms — so each ballot cast carries proportionally more weight.
What’s on the Ballot in 2026
Your exact ballot depends on where you live, but the national picture looks like this.
U.S. House of Representatives: All 435 Seats
Every voting seat in the House is up for election. House members serve two-year terms, so the entire chamber goes before voters every two years. The number of representatives each state gets is based on population, and a party needs 218 of the 435 seats to hold the majority and control the chamber.
U.S. Senate: 35 Seats
Only about a third of the Senate faces voters in any given election because senators serve six-year terms on staggered cycles. In 2026, 35 Senate seats are up: 33 regularly scheduled Class II contests plus special elections in Florida and Ohio. A party needs 51 of the 100 seats for a Senate majority.
Governors: 36 States
Voters in 36 states will elect governors in 2026, and three U.S. territories choose governors as well. In most states governors serve four-year terms; Vermont and New Hampshire elect theirs every two years, so they vote for governor in both presidential and midterm years. Michigan is one of the states electing a governor this cycle. These races shape state policy, budgets, and election administration — and the landscape heading into the 2028 presidential campaign.
State Legislatures, Local Offices, and Ballot Measures
Below the federal races, ballots include state lawmakers, attorneys general, judges, mayors, county officials, and school boards, depending on the state. Some states also put citizen initiatives and legislatively referred ballot measures directly to voters. Because of all this, your ballot will look quite different from a voter’s in another state — look up your sample ballot before you go so nothing on it surprises you.
Where Things Stand in Congress Right Now
As of mid-October 2026, Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers: 53–47 in the Senate and 218–214 in the House, with a couple of vacancies and one independent. The math is simple from here. In a full 435-seat House, Democrats would need a net gain of four seats to reach the 218-seat majority; in the Senate, they would need a net gain of four to reach 51. Republicans need to hold what they have. The winners take office in January 2027 and will form the 120th Congress.
Key Dates Every Voter Should Know
Voter registration deadlines
Every state sets its own registration deadline, and in several states the deadline has already passed. USAGov’s voter registration page lists every state’s deadline in one place — find yours now, because once it passes there is no late registration in most states.
Early voting and mail ballots
Early in-person voting is already open or opening in many states, and mail/absentee ballot request deadlines are approaching in others. Rules, request deadlines, and return deadlines vary widely by state, so confirm the details for yours rather than assuming. If you vote by mail, return your ballot as early as you can — late-arriving ballots are the most common reason mail votes don’t count.
Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Polls are open on Election Day in every state, though hours differ. Bring whatever identification your state requires — voter ID rules vary, and your state election office spells out exactly what counts.
After Election Day: results and the 120th Congress
Don’t expect every race to be decided on election night. Close contests and large numbers of mail ballots mean counting can take days, and recounts or runoffs can extend the timeline further in some states. Once results are certified, the winners take office in January 2027.
How to Check Your Registration and Make a Voting Plan
1. Confirm you’re registered
Start at Vote.gov, the federal government’s official voter registration site, or your state election office’s lookup tool. Confirm your name, address, party affiliation, and polling place — people get removed from rolls or moved to inactive status more often than you’d think, and discovering it on Election Day is too late in most states.
2. Learn your state’s rules
Registration deadlines, ID requirements, early voting windows, and mail ballot rules all vary by state. Your state election office is the authoritative source; Vote.gov links you straight to it.
3. Find your polling place and sample ballot
Polling locations change. Look yours up ahead of time, and pull up your sample ballot so you can research every race and measure before you vote — not while standing in line.
4. Know what to do if there’s a problem
If your registration can’t be confirmed at the polls, you can cast a provisional ballot, which preserves a record of your vote while your eligibility is verified. If you run into trouble, the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition runs a multilingual voter helpline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).
5. Traveling for Thanksgiving? Vote early
Thanksgiving falls less than a month after Election Day this year, and plenty of voters will be on the move. If you’ll be traveling, vote early in person or request and return your mail ballot before you leave — and if you’re hosting the holiday table, our Thanksgiving dinner planning guide covers the menu math.
Why the Midterms Matter
Midterms decide who controls Congress for the second half of a presidential term, and that decides what legislation can pass, what gets investigated, and whose nominees get confirmed. Governors and state legislatures shape the policies closest to daily life — schools, taxes, roads, health care access — while ballot measures let voters decide questions directly. Presidential elections get the crowds, but the offices filled in November touch your life first. Check your registration, know your dates, and make a plan to vote.
When are the 2026 midterms?
The 2026 midterm elections are on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Poll hours vary by state and county, and early voting is already open in many states.
What is on the ballot in the 2026 midterm elections?
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, 36 governorships, plus state legislatures, local offices, and ballot measures that vary by state.
Is there a presidential vote in the 2026 midterms?
No. Midterm elections fall halfway through the president’s four-year term, so the ballot covers Congress, governors, and state and local offices — not the presidency.
How many seats does a party need to control the House?
A party needs 218 of the 435 House seats to hold the majority. In the Senate, 51 of the 100 seats are needed for a majority.
How do I check my voter registration?
Use Vote.gov or USAGov’s voter registration page to confirm your registration, find your state’s deadline, and locate your polling place. Registration deadlines and voting rules vary by state, so check yours early.
