Voting in the 2026 midterms? Here is what to know

The 2026 midterm elections are almost here. But voters have questions about more than just the candidates. When does early voting start? Can you still vote by mail? Will immigration agents or troops be at polling places? If those are your questions, too, you're in the right place. When are midterm e

Midterms: Help me Vote

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What is the story about?

Here's your guide to everything you need to know about the 2026 midterm elections.

The 2026 midterm elections are almost here.

But voters have questions about more than just the candidates. When does early voting start? Can you still vote by mail? Will immigration agents or troops be at polling places? If those are your questions, too, you're in the right place.

When are midterm elections?

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Most states and Washington, DC, also offer early in-person voting.

What is at stake during the 2026 midterms?

As of now, Republicans have control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. Nov. 3 will determine whether they keep the legislative majority. Democrats have a shot at taking the House, while Senate control is up for grabs.

50 races in 50 states:Here's who's running, and why it matters.
These races will decide whether Democrats or Republicans win control of the House.
Democrats vs. Trump’s veto: What’s actually possible if they win in November.

What to know before you vote?

Throughout the months ahead of midterms, there have been many updates on mail-in voting and election security. Find the latest in our Reddit

election guide.

Here’s the quick rundown on topics readers asked us the most about:

You will be able to vote by mail. The Supreme Court declined Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots. Learn more about mail-in voting in your state here.
There are no plans to send troops to the polls, said Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Dan Cline, who added there are also no plans for the military to “seize ballots, voting machines or other election-related material.”
ICE at the polls? Agents won’t be deployed broadly, DHS, ICE and other Trump officials said. But they also haven’t completely ruled out the option of officers showing up for targeted enforcement despite federal and state laws explicitly prohibiting federal government enforcement at polling places.
The SAVE program was cleared, but little impact is expected. The Supreme Court’s decision allowed the use of this system that allows agencies to verify immigration status and U.S. citizenship for individual citizenship checks, not broad searches.
Voter ID laws vary by state. See your state’s laws here, get answers to common questions about in-person and mail-ballot voting here and see why trans voters could face hurdles.
While you can register to vote online in most states, you cannot cast your vote online. Check your voter registration here.

The 2026 election season is underway: Here’s your monthly guide with important dates, voter resources
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For more help navigating the midterms, follow USA TODAY and politics reporter Kinsey Crowley for video explainers on TikTok and Instagram, and sign up for Zach Schermele's On Politics newsletter for election news and analysis.

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