First polls open as voters to decide control of Congress
Polls are open in several eastern states as the final hours of the 2026 midterm elections begin and control of Congress hangs in the balance.
Several key states across the country are open for voting and will continue to accept voters until late in the night. The Center Square plans coverage of more than 80 races across the country on Tuesday night.
Here is a guide for when polls open and close across the country.
6 a.m. ET – CT, IN, Maine, KY, NY, NJ, VA, VT
Polls in Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Kentucky, New York, New Jersey, Virginia and Vermont will be the first in the country to see voters at the polls on Election Day. Each state is in the Eastern time zone and accepts voters beginning at 6 a.m.
A critical race for control of the U.S. Senate takes place in Maine between Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic candidate Troy Jackson.
Jackson leads 49% to 46.4% in the average of five most recent polls compiled by 270toWin.
Kentucky and Indiana both close polling locations at 6 p.m. Eastern and could offer insight on partisan fortunes throughout the remainder of the night.
6:30 a.m. ET – NC, Ohio, WV
Polls in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia open beginning at 6:30 a.m. Eastern. Both Ohio and North Carolina have critical federal races on the ballot that will determine control of Congress.
The race between U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Democrat Sherrod Brown has faced intense speculation over a winner. The Cook Political Report ranks the race as a “toss up,” meaning either candidate has a chance of winning the seat for Vice President JD Vance’s remaining term, which ends in 2029.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, faces Republican Michael Whatley in the state’s competitive Senate race as well.
Polls close at 7:30 p.m. Eastern in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.
7 a.m. ET/ 6 a.m. CT – FL, GA, DE, IL, IA, MI, RI, SC, PA, MO, MA, MD, LA
Polls open in most remaining states across the East Coast beginning at 7 a.m. on Election Day. Florida, Georgia, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Maryland will all see voters head to the polls in critical races down the ballot.
Missouri, Louisiana and Illinois will also see voters begin hitting the polls, although their local time will read 6 a.m. Polls close in Missouri and Illinois at 7 p.m. Central and in Louisiana at 8 p.m. Central.
8 a.m. ET/7 a.m. CT – AL, IA, KS, MN, MS, ND, OK, SD, TX, WI
More states across the Central time zone will begin opening polls at 8 a.m. Eastern, when it is 7 a.m. local. Across the House and Senate, Iowa and Texas will see voters head to the polls in crucial races that are predicted to be extremely tight.
Texas voters will also be affected by redistricting in as many as five congressional districts that sought to lean in favor of Republicans during the midterm elections. Polls will close in most of these states by 9 p.m. Eastern.
8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT – AR
Arkansas is the only state in the country where polls will open at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Voters in the state will decide on a U.S. Senate race expected to favor Republican incumbent Tom Cotton, significant U.S. House races and other measures down the ballot.
9 a.m. ET/7 a.m. MT – AZ, CO, MT, NE, NM, Utah, WY
As the morning goes on, polling locations in states across the Mountain time zone will begin to see voters. Nebraska, divided between the Central and Mountain time zones, will see polls open at 7 a.m. MT in both regions.
Crucial races for control of the U.S. House of Representatives will occur throughout these states and down ballot measures will have a significant impact on the makeup of state legislatures.
10 a.m. ET/ 7a.m. PT – CA, ID, NV, OR, WA
States along the West Coast and across the Pacific time zone will see polls open beginning at 7 a.m. A test of California’s redistricting in favor of Democrats will likely be top of mind for voters heading to the polls.
Poll openings in Washington and Oregon are subject to county-level discretion. Both states rely on mail-in voting to conduct elections. Polls will close in these states at 11 p.m. Eastern.
11 a.m. ET/ 7 a.m. AST – Alaska, NH
Alaska will see polls open at 7 a.m. Alaska Standard Time or 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The crucial U.S. Senate race between incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic candidate Mary Peltola will be key in control of the upper chamber in Congress.
Polls will not close in Alaska until 8 p.m. local time, or 1 a.m. Eastern time.
Additionally, while no specific time is listed, polls in New Hampshire must also be open by 11 a.m. ET on Election Day.
Noon ET/ 7 a.m. HST – Hawaii,
Hawaii will be the final state in the country to see polls open at 7 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time and Noon Eastern Time. Federal and statewide elections throughout the island will also contribute to control of Congress.
To stay updated on election results, visit thecentersquare.com/elections.
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