Tens of millions of voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with no widespread disruptions reported despite concerns about possible interference by the Trump administration. Election officials dealt with localized issues including delayed poll openings, long lines, poor signage and equipment problems. Polls remained open in parts of the western United States later in the day.
Flooding in parts of Florida and the Four Corners states—Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah—led local officials to move some polling locations and use emergency ballots. In Westchester County, New York, a scanner problem meant voters had to hand their ballots to election workers to be scanned later. Online claims that the issue indicated fraud were rejected by the district’s two candidates, who urged voters not to be deterred. Republican incumbent Mike Lawler wrote that every ballot would be counted.
The Justice Department had said it planned to deploy about 1,000 election monitors and later announced that monitors would observe voting in every state. The move prompted concern among some local officials and election experts, amid what the report described as baseless claims of widespread voter fraud by President Trump and other federal officials. No widespread interference by the monitors had been reported by Tuesday evening.
New Mexico’s secretary of state’s office did receive reports that Justice Department monitors had asked unusual questions and questioned voters in Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque. A spokesperson said the state Department of Justice contacted the federal team lead and received assurances the reported behavior would be addressed. Concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity and law enforcement near polling places had also not materialized as of 9 p.m. ET.
Tuesday’s ballots added to more than 61 million votes already cast during early voting. According to data compiled by the University of Florida’s Election Lab, early in-person and mail-in voting was 34% higher nationally than in the 2022 midterms, with the increase driven mainly by in-person voting.
Voting rights advocates are now watching for disputes over close races and the certification of results. Some election officials have also warned about possible ballot seizures. Shaylyn Cochran, deputy executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said election season continues after Election Day and that the organization would remain vigilant.
Sources: NPR News.