WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 18: Early voting for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections has begun in several states, opening a six-week period before the November 3 general election. The elections will determine all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly one-third of the 100-member Senate.

The midterm elections are held halfway through a U.S. president’s four-year term and do not include the presidency or vice presidency. Voters will also decide a range of state and local offices, including governors, state legislators, judges and ballot measures, depending on the state.

Voting procedures differ considerably across the United States. Most states provide some form of early in-person voting, while rules governing absentee and mail-in ballots vary by state. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission advises voters to check their state election authority for registration deadlines, polling locations, identification requirements and ballot-return procedures.

Early voting is expected to play a significant role in the 2026 election. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that 97% of eligible voters will have access to some form of voting before Election Day, either through early in-person voting or voting by mail.

Mail voting has also remained a major issue ahead of the election. The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to impose new federal requirements on mail-in ballots before the November elections, leaving existing state-level systems in place.

Election officials have stressed that voting rules, deadlines and ballot-counting procedures vary by jurisdiction. The Election Assistance Commission also notes that results reported on election night are unofficial, with certification taking place after ballots are counted, reconciled and, where required, audited.