Election explainer
US Midterm Elections 2026: Date, Seats and How They Work
A guide for international readers to the November 3 US elections and the difference between House, Senate and presidential elections.
When is Election Day?
The general election is on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Voting and counting follow state rules. For readers in India, much of the election-night count will unfold on November 4. Check your state election office for voting information; this guide is not a substitute for local voter instructions.
What is being elected?
All 435 voting seats in the House of Representatives are contested. Senate elections run on a staggered cycle, with Class II terms ending in January 2027. Special elections can also appear on the ballot. State and local contests take place alongside congressional races.
Why do international readers follow the midterms?
The outcome determines the membership of Congress, which makes federal laws and considers public spending. Follow the House and Senate separately: a party can win one chamber without winning the other. A congressional election does not elect a new president.
What should you follow first?
Start with the chamber-wide picture, then open individual state results and check their sources and timestamps. A candidate ahead in an incomplete count has not necessarily won. BB News separates counting, leads, projections and certified results on its results page.