Your Election Day Guide

How to make sense of the results.

The The only certainty about today's midterm elections - which will determine control of the US government at all levels and shape the future of democracy - may be that the polls will close tonight.

"Nobody knows what's going to happen," said my colleague Lisa Lerer, who covers politics.

Voter polls suggest Republicans are favored to take back the House and potentially the Senate, but if many races are tossed that multiple outcomes are still possible (Nate Cohn, chief political analyst for the Times, outlined four possible scenarios .)

Results will start rolling in around 6:00 p.m. x vote. But the full picture could take days or weeks to emerge. Some swing states, like Pennsylvania, can take days to count votes. And the Georgia Senate race, which could decide control of the chamber, could go down in December.

Today's newsletter is a guide to the issues and what to look for as the results come in, including potential signposts for congressional oversight.

The issues

The midterm campaigns have largely focused on three issues: the rising cost of living, crime and abortion. “Everyone is a little mad about something,” said my colleague Jennifer Medina, who is in Nevada covering the races there. "It doesn't matter which party you vote for, you're angry about something."

A divided federal government is unlikely to do much about these issues. More directly in play is the agenda of each game. If Democrats keep the House and Senate, they'll be more likely to pass legislative priorities like tax hikes for the wealthy and tax credits for families with kids.

If Republicans take the House, they have suggested they might try to cut spending on Ukraine aid, health care, and other federal programs, and likely open up investigations of Biden administration officials. If Republicans also win the Senate, they will also have the final say on President Biden's nominations to his administration and to the courts.

Many Republicans are also likely to follow their example of Donald Trump, who teased a potentially imminent presidential campaign announcement last night and could disrupt his party's congressional agenda with his own priorities.

The Americans also vote on 36 state governors and a host of state and local officials. These races could have a greater influence on some of the campaigns' dominating issues; abortion and criminal justice policy is largely set at the state and local levels. “Many Democratic gubernatorial candidates have presented themselves as a bulwark when it comes to protecting abortion rights,” said my colleague Katie Glueck, who covers the Pennsylvania election.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Voters will also decide whether to approve a series of ballot measures, including abortion-related proposals in five states, the legalization of marijuana in five others and the expansion from Medicaid in South Dakota.

The races could also help determine the future of American democracy. Many Republican candidates continue to question the results of the 2020 presidential election. Some are running for positions, such as Secretary of State, that directly oversee the election; others will have a say in certifying future voting results.

Things to Watch

How will we know where the night is heading? There are a few useful signs to look for:

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