Americans are voting in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, to choose members of Congress. Voters can cast their ballots by mail where permitted, vote early in person or vote in person on Election Day. The rules for early and mail voting vary by state.
Voting is not mandatory in the United States. Unlike Brazil, the country has no single central election authority overseeing voting nationwide, and states decide which voting systems to use. Electronic voting machines have not become widespread.
To vote in federal elections, a person must be a US citizen. This includes citizens living abroad and people with dual nationality. For US citizens born abroad who have never lived in the country, eligibility depends on the state where their parents last lived or registered to vote. Almost all states allow people to register before turning 18 if they will be 18 by Election Day.
Non-citizens, including permanent legal residents, cannot vote in federal elections, state elections or most local elections. Some people convicted of serious crimes or serving a sentence may also lose voting rights, depending on state law. People with certain mental disorders may be barred from voting.
Voters elect members of the House of Representatives by congressional district, while senators are chosen by voters across their state. The House has 435 seats, all of which are up for election every two years. Around one-third of the Senate’s 100 seats are contested in each election cycle.
The 2026 midterms also include gubernatorial elections in 36 states, along with contests for state legislatures and local offices, including some mayoral races.
Federal data show that about half of ballots in 2022 were cast on Election Day, roughly one-fifth through early in-person voting and about one-third by mail. In 2024, Election Day voting and early in-person voting each accounted for more than one-third of ballots, while mail voting made up a slightly smaller share.
Sources: CNN Brasil.