Midterm elections 2026: how are votes counted and when will we know the results?

Everything you need to know about how winners are called, how states count ballots and Trump’s election denialism

There’s no simple answer as to when US voters will know the results of the midterms.

Elections are managed locally throughout the US, and it’s different in each state. Sometimes, if a race isn’t close, there’s a near-instantaneous sense of who won. In more contested races, it can take many hours, days or even weeks.

This year, all 435 members of the House of Representatives are up for re-election, and 33 Senate seats are up for grabs. The governor’s offices of 36 states are on the ballot, as well as countless other statewide and legislative races. That’s not to mention local councils and school boards.

The lag between voting and knowing results can lead to an information vacuum and uncertainty that partisan actors may exploit to spread lies about stolen elections. Donald Trump, who has denied the results of his 2020 loss and other elections when he hasn’t liked the results, has tried to assert federal control over elections, which the courts have rebuffed. But election officials are on guard for potential interference in election processes this year.

Here’s what you need to know about how votes are tabulated and when we may expect to know the results.