The American public has begun voting in the midterm elections held to determine control of Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in the second half of President Donald Trump's term. While the first polls opened in the state of Vermont at 05:00 local time, voting began as of 06:00 local time in many states including Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Virginia. As voters continue to cast their ballots, polls in western states are expected to open in the coming hours.
Critical race for control of Congress
In the elections, all 435 seats in the lower house of the US Congress, the House of Representatives, and 35 of the 100 seats in the upper house, the Senate, will be redetermined. While Republicans are trying to maintain their majorities in both chambers of Congress, Democrats are aiming to take control. A majority in the House of Representatives requires 218 seats. According to the current seat distribution, Democrats need to gain at least 3 seats to win the majority. In the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority with 53 seats, Democrats need to win 4 seats to take control.
More than 57 million voters cast early ballots
There was high participation in the early voting process before election day. According to data from the University of Florida Election Lab, more than 57 million Americans across the country cast their votes in advance. The high turnout in the early voting process demonstrated the intense interest in the elections. Competitive races in states such as Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Maine, and Texas in particular are expected to determine the balance of power in Congress.
Election results will affect Trump's political future
The midterm elections are seen as one of the most critical political tests of Trump's second presidential term. The cost of living, inflation, immigration policies, relations with Israel, and the Iran war are among the main issues on the voters' agenda in the country. While pre-election polls and political assessments indicate that it is highly likely that Democrats will win the majority in the House of Representatives, a more competitive race is foreseen in the Senate.
Trump, in his statements before the election, stated that he believes Republicans will maintain their majority in both chambers of Congress. If Democrats take control of one or both chambers of Congress, the Trump administration is expected to face stronger opposition on issues such as passing legislation, budget arrangements, and political appointments. It is assessed that if Democrats win the House of Representatives, Congressional investigations into the Trump administration may also increase.
Gubernatorial elections are also being held in 36 states
In addition to the Congressional elections, gubernatorial elections are also being held in 36 states. Voters are also casting ballots for state legislatures, local governments, and various referendums. The results of the gubernatorial races are important for the future of states' immigration, education, health, and economic policies.
First results will be announced in the evening hours
Voting in the US will end according to the different time zones of the states. The first polls will close at 18:00 US Eastern Time in some parts of the states of Indiana and Kentucky. Voting in New York will continue until 21:00 local time. It is stated that it may take several days to determine the final results, especially due to the counting of mail-in ballots in competitive electoral districts.
News Source: İHA
