Early voting for the 2026 US midterm elections has started in Virginia, Minnesota, Idaho and South Dakota, marking the beginning of the voting period ahead of Election Day on November 3. The elections will determine which party controls the US House of Representatives and Senate.
The election is taking place as Americans face concerns over rising living costs, the war in Iran, immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump and potential risks linked to artificial intelligence. The campaign has also been shaped by an unusual round of congressional redistricting taking place before the normal post-census schedule.
Voters will elect all 435 members of the House and 35 of the 100 senators, as well as governors in 39 states and territories and numerous state and local officials.
Early voting has become increasingly common across the country, with 47 states and Washington, D.C., now offering some form of voting before Election Day.
However, the rules differ between states, and Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire require an approved reason for voting early.
Virginia is among the states at the forefront of in-person early voting, reflecting a broader national shift toward casting ballots before Election Day. The results could have significant consequences for the final two years of Trump's presidency, particularly if Democrats gain control of either chamber of Congress, which could lead to greater congressional investigations and oversight.
Trump has also continued to raise concerns about certain voting methods and has supported changes to election administration. According to AP, his efforts have included legal challenges, efforts to identify noncitizen voters and pressure on states to provide voter information.
The 2026 election cycle has also been affected by a dispute over congressional maps. The controversy began after Trump encouraged Texas Republicans to redraw the state's congressional districts in a way that could benefit the Republican Party, marking an unusual redistricting battle outside the regular post-census process.
With early voting now underway, the coming weeks will show how issues such as living costs, immigration and the Iran war affect voters and whether the redistricting changes have an impact on the balance of power in Congress. Election Day is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
