435 House seats, 35 Senate races, 36 governors: What’s on the ballot in US midterm elections

US midterm elections 2026: Americans vote in the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot. So are 35 U.S. Senate seats. The results will decide who makes up the House and Senate in the next Congress.

Voting rules are not the same everywhere. Each state sets its own dates, deadlines and requirements. Here is what voters need to know.

What is on the ballot in the 2026 US midterms?

Every House seat is up for election this year. Thirty-five Senate seats are also up.


Many voters will see more than that. Depending on where they live, ballots will also include state and local races. These races differ by place, so two voters in the same state may not see the same ballot.

When is Election Day in 2026?

The general election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.

Voters who want to take part before that day should check their state’s election website. It will list registration deadlines, early voting dates and locations, and the rules for mail-in ballots.

How can voters find their candidates?

The best place to start is the state or local election office. Official election websites give details on voter registration, candidates, sample ballots, polling places and voting deadlines.

Voters should also confirm which congressional district they live in. House races are decided district by district. Two people in the same state can have different House candidates on their ballots.

The Federal Election Commission is another source. It publishes information on federal candidates and congressional elections.

What is early voting?

Early voting lets people cast a ballot in person before Election Day.

It does not work the same way in every state. Each state decides when early voting starts, how long it lasts and where people can vote. States also set any ID or other requirements.

Voters who plan to vote early should look at their state’s election website. It will show the locations and hours.

What is absentee or mail-in voting?

Absentee or mail-in voting generally lets people vote without going to their assigned polling place on Election Day.

The rules depend on the state. Some states run their elections mostly by mail. In other states, voters must meet certain conditions before they can get an absentee ballot.

States set different dates for requesting a ballot and for sending it back. Voters who plan to vote by mail should check with their state election office well before Election Day.

Voters can take a few simple steps:

• Check voter registration and deadlines on the state election website.


• Confirm your congressional district.


• Look up candidates and view a sample ballot.


• Find your polling place, or the early voting site if you plan to vote early.


• Read the mail-in ballot rules if you plan to vote by mail.

Each step starts with the state or local election office. Its website is the most reliable source for dates, places and requirements where you live.