US voters head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, for the midterm elections, with more than 56 million ballots already cast through early voting, either by mail or in person, depending on state rules. The outcome will determine which party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate, shaping how readily Donald Trump can advance his agenda and potentially opening the door to investigations into his administration.
There is no exact date for when all results will be available. Many contests could be decided on election night, but counting is managed separately by each state, rather than by a single national authority. The time required can depend on population size, the number of mail ballots and state-specific rules, particularly in close races.
California can take weeks to finish counting. Among the reasons is that it accepts ballots postmarked by Election Day even when they arrive days later. In the 2022 midterms, control of the Senate was settled after four days, while the outcome in the House took eight. In 2018, control of both chambers was determined by 12:30 a.m. Brasília time.
The new senators’ and representatives’ terms are due to begin on January 3 under the US Constitution. In 2027, however, that date falls on a Sunday, so the 120th Congress could start on a different day if a law setting another date is approved.
Sources: CNN Brasil.