US Midterms [LIVE]: Westchester Ballot Scanner Failure Hits Key NY-17 Swing District; First Polls Close 6pm ET

Losing the Senate on Tuesday would hit Trump harder than losing the House alone. The Senate confirms Supreme Court justices, cabinet members and senior federal officials. A Democratic majority there could slow or block Trump’s picks for the remaining two years of his term, AFP reported. A House loss would mainly let Democrats stall legislation and use committee powers to investigate the administration. Holding both chambers would give Democrats leverage over spending deals and nominations at the same time. Republicans go into the vote with narrow majorities in both chambers.

Florida voters are choosing a successor to Governor Ron DeSantis. Term limits bar him from a third term, and he leaves office in January. Republican US Representative Byron Donalds is trying to keep the governor’s mansion in Republican hands. He faces former Congress member David Jolly, a centrist Democrat who has run a tighter race than expected. DeSantis’s record as a hardline conservative is expected to shape the result. Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, told Al Jazeera that DeSantis’s positions have alienated some voters. Jewett said the vote count would show whether that shift is big enough to change the outcome.

Millions of Americans are voting on Tuesday to decide which party controls Congress for the last two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. Republicans currently hold majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Democrats are hoping to flip enough seats to win both chambers. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are up, along with 36 governor races and state ballot measures. With control of Congress, Democrats could block Trump’s agenda and open investigations into the president and his team. BBC North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher wrote that this could include an attempt to impeach Trump.

Severe weather is complicating Election Day in several states. The BBC reported that Florida officials moved some polling stations after back-to-back floods. In Utah, authorities issued an emergency order early on Tuesday that lets voters in San Juan County return ballots electronically if flooding stops them from travelling. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs declared a state of emergency on Monday after storms and flash floods. Hobbs said the order would give authorities the resources to clear roads, repair infrastructure and help displaced residents. Voters in affected areas should check with their county election office before heading out, because polling places may have changed.

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers posted final appeals on X on Tuesday in Michigan’s Senate contest, one of the most closely watched races of the midterms. El-Sayed shared a campaign montage that included an appearance with former President Barack Obama and told supporters the world was watching. Rogers urged backers to save the state and posted voter interviews, including a clip in which a supporter calls El-Sayed an extremist. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted in Brooklyn and then said El-Sayed would win because of his focus on living costs. Al Jazeera reported that Democrat Haley Stevens has backed Rogers. Asked about that, Schumer said: “Haley Stevens is one vote.”

Ballot scanners across New York’s Westchester County began rejecting paper ballots shortly after polls opened on Tuesday. Local media, citing the county board of elections, reported that the ballots were too thick for the machines to accept. In a post on X, Westchester County Government said every ballot would stay secure and be counted. It added that its election board was in constant contact with New York state officials to fix the problem. Voters have been asked to stay in line and fill in their paper ballots as poll workers instruct. The board said it was working to keep disruption to a minimum.

Voting in the 2026 US midterm elections began at 5am ET (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, when the first polling stations opened in Vermont. New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut and parts of Kentucky and Indiana opened an hour later. By 9am ET (14:00 GMT), polls had opened in Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Poll hours and closing times differ by state, so voters should check with their state or county election office. All 435 House seats and 35 of the 100 Senate seats are on the ballot, along with governor races in 36 states. Results are expected from Tuesday evening US time.