Americans vote in midterm elections with control of Congress at stake

Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday to participate in the US midterm elections, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats contested, France 24 reported. Democrats are widely expected to regain control of the House, needing a net gain of three seats, while Senate control remains uncertain, requiring four additional Democratic seats to take the majority.

Polls opened at staggered times across the country, beginning at 5 a.m. local time in Vermont, and closing as late as 1 a.m. Eastern Time in Alaska, Al Jazeera explained. Voting was conducted in person, by mail, and through early ballots, with results expected to start coming in as polls closed.

The outcome of these elections will influence President Donald Trump's ability to pass legislation and serve as a referendum on his second term, according to France 24. Republicans currently hold both chambers of Congress, making these races critical for control.

Election results may take hours or days to finalize due to the counting of mail and provisional ballots, and closely contested races could delay the determination of which party controls Congress. News organizations will analyze vote counts to call races as official tallies become available.

Voters in 36 states also elected governors alongside congressional races, adding further significance to the midterm elections, Al Jazeera noted. The election's impact will be closely watched across the nation and internationally as results unfold.