Caitriona Perry
Presenter, BBC News US Election special

A very important question looms: what is the best snack to keep broadcasters going for eight straight hours of live television?

We've spent the last few days in the studio in Washington DC, rehearsing for our special TV results programme, which starts soon.

I'll be looking out for some of those early results in states where the polls are among the first to close - Ohio, Florida and North Carolina.

We may start to see early signs of a so-called "blue wave" for Democrats - and whether it's a trickle, a tsunami, or fails to materialise at all.

But for now, I'm cramming the last bits of candidate information and stocking up on almonds. (Editor's note: Fair play Caitriona, this is by far the healthiest snack in the newsroom)

• Watch our election results programme live above, and on BBC One and the BBC News Channel from 18:30 EST (23:30 GMT)

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from Washington DC

As we’ve just reported, the first polls have just closed and we could soon start to see some results.

Here’s how we expect that to play out:

• First, we’ll see results from places that are easy wins for either Democrats or Republicans. These are not hotly contested races
• Later in the night, we’ll start to get wind of how the closer races are unfolding. Think toss-up races where the candidates are neck-and-neck
• What we still don’t know is when the Senate and House of Representatives will officially be called. It could be later tonight, or it could take days

We will update you on the outcomes right here in our results banner above. And if you want to monitor the vote count in real time, check out our larger results tracking page here.

The first polls have just closed in Kentucky and Indiana.

In the coming hours, other states will follow suit and results will begin to come in.

As a reminder, you'll be able to track those results live here. You can see a summary at the top of this page.

Our reporters have been busy speaking to voters across the US throughout the day. They'll continue to track reactions as results come in, but let's take a look at what some of them have heard so far:

In Texas: Vivian, arriving in an orange Mustang, told Gary O'Donoghue she'd voted Republican down the ballot: "Taxes, taxes, taxes - that's my main thing right now."

In Iowa: Tim, a farmer who's leaning Democrat, explained to Samira Hussein that he's "not happy, point blank, with what's going on" and that the "farm economy" was influencing how he'd vote.

In Ohio: Marilyn, 80, told Tom Bateman that she'd voted Republican across the ballot because she thought the country would "go in the tank if Democrats get in".

In California: Actor Remigio Ortiz, 42, wanted to express his dissatisfaction with the Trump administration, telling David Willis that he thinks the "country’s trash right now, it’s embarrassing. We need change".

Chris Jeavans
Data journalist

Earlier we told you about what voters think of the national economy, according to the voter poll survey.

Pollsters also asked about inflation and the effect of rising prices on people’s lives.

Almost eight in 10 voters (79%) said inflation had caused them and their family a severe or moderate hardship in the past year.

A fifth (21%) of those answering said it had caused them no hardship at all.

A majority of voters (59%) said they were “very concerned” about the cost of petrol and diesel and a similar proportion (58%) gave this answer about the cost of food and groceries.

More than six in 10 respondents (62%) said they thought that higher than usual prices were more because of President Trump’s policies.

And 38% said it was more due to factors beyond his control.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from Washington DC

We're continuing to pick through the data from the national voter poll, and we'll bring you more of that in the next little bit.

But in just a few minutes, the first polls will close in the 2026 midterm elections and then the vote count will begin.

This means that it might not be too long until we know some of the winners.

We’ll bring you those results here on this page. Races will be projected by our partner CBS or officially called, which means there is enough data to conclude one candidate has gained an unbeatable lead.

But as we’ve been reporting, the big question of the night is going to be finding out which party will control Congress. We may not know the answer to that for some time.

The first results to come in will be in places that are safe wins for Democrats or Republicans.

The swing states and close races will take more time to call and will come in later tonight - or even days from now.

When we start to hear results from tight races - like Ohio and Michigan - we’ll know things are heating up.

You can follow along on our results page all night, with information right down to state- and county-level data.

Chris Jeavans
Data journalist

We're still picking through the poll of voters across the US which has been taking the mood of the electorate.

Almost four in ten of those asked (38%) said they were angry at the way things are going in the country today, with a further 37% saying they were dissatisfied.

Only 18% said they were satisfied, and 7% of respondents felt enthusiastic.

So taken together, that's a majority telling pollsters SSRS they are not happy about the current state of the United States.

Chris Jeavans
Data journalist

A majority of US voters in these midterm elections have a negative view of the state of the national economy, according to the large voter poll we’ve been telling you about.

Some 75% of those asked said the economy was in a "not so good or poor" state with 25% saying it was "excellent or good".

Looking at their own family finances, 44% of people said they were in a worse situation than two years ago, 38% said about the same and 18% said better.

This data comes from a survey that includes exit polling of both early and on-the-day voters in the US midterm elections.

As a reminder, these are early estimates and the data will be updated through the night.

Chris Jeavans
Data journalist

Voters across the US have named the economy their top concern as they cast their ballots in the midterm elections.

Some 39% of those asked in the poll of more than 79,000 people said it was the most important issue facing the country.

The state of democracy was in second place, with 32% of respondents putting it top, followed by immigration on 14%.

Healthcare, foreign policy and crime were each named as the top issue by a lower share of voters.

The survey, officially called the Voter Poll, is a representative sample of American voters in the run up to the election, and includes exit polling of both early and on the day voters. It’s carried out by polling company SSRS on behalf of a consortium of US media organisations.

As a reminder, this is the first tranche of data - so the numbers may shift throughout the night.

We're still digging through the data, but we'll bring you more on this in the next few minutes.

Sakshi Venkatraman
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, EPA

In a few minutes, we’re going to see the initial results of a national voter poll. This will be our first big clue about what has motivated voters on election day.

The poll asks tens of thousands of people their opinions and top concerns about the country - and we’ll be able to look at how that differs by age, gender, education and other demographics as the night goes on.

From 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT), we'll start bringing you some of those results here.

And then at 18:00 EST (23:00 GMT), the first polling sites will start to close to US voters. It won't be long after that that we can start bringing you some results. Stay tuned.

For more stories from the US and around the world, follow BBC News US on WhatsApp.

Image source, Getty Images

There are six Senate races deemed to be a toss-up by independent elections analyst Cook Political Report - Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Texas.

That list previously included Michigan, but Cook Political Report recently moved Michigan from "toss-up" to "leans Democrat".

All six remaining toss-up states are currently held by Republicans. The Democrats would need to win three of those seats, plus five classed as likely or leaning Democratic, to hit 51 and take control of the Senate.

The current Republican majority in the House, the lower chamber, is thin. They have 218 representatives, the exact number needed to have control, plus one independent who votes with them.

Some of the most closely-watched races in the House are in east-coast states, according to the Cook Political Report. These include New York's 17th District, Pennsylvania's 8th District and Virginia's 1st District.

Trump will have no reason to campaign after this final major electoral testpublished at 21:50 GMT 3 November

21:50 GMT 3 November

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Image source, Reuters

The midterms are Donald Trump’s last major electoral test before the end of his term in 2028.

He says he has accepted that he cannot run for a third term as president. So he will not face the verdict of voters again.

After this he will have no reason to go out campaigning or convene rallies across the country at which he can bathe in the adoration of his loyal supporters.

Once the midterms are over, President Trump will soon start to feel his political power draining away- even if his Republicans perform better than opinion polls suggest.

Every president looks like a lame duck when he enters the last two years of his tenure. Everyone knows he won’t be in office much longer and attention soon turns to who the next president might be.

This must be a difficult prospect for every president.

It will be uniquely painful for President Trump.

From the urban streets of New York City to rural Ohio and Californian beach towns, Americans around the country are heading out to vote in person today.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Asma Khalid
Co-host, The Global Story Podcast

Image source, Reuters

A black woman has never been elected governor of any state in US history. Democrat Keshia Lance Bottoms would make history if she wins in Georgia today.

The former Democratic mayor of Atlanta is in a tight race against the Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire businessman and healthcare executive.

Georgia has not had a Democratic governor in more than 20 years. This is the third time in a row that Democrats have chosen a black woman as their nominee for governor.

Stacey Abrams lost in 2018 and 2022 to the current Republican governor Brian Kemp, who is finishing his final term this year and has maintained significant popularity.

In a sign of Bottoms' challenge, I met some voters who are splitting their tickets – voting for the Democrat Jon Ossoff for Senate and Rick Jackson for governor, or voting for Ossoff but leaving the governor’s spot blank.

Bottoms faced intense scrutiny during her time as mayor of Atlanta over questions of public safety and crime during Covid lockdowns. The issue became so contentious that some residents in the affluent neighbourhood of Atlanta, known as Buckhead, tried to secede.

Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent in Austin, Texas

There’s a steady stream of voters making their way into the Carver Branch of the Austin Public Library, past a thicket of campaign posters and party workers pitching their candidates.

Off to one side, three observers from a coalition of non-partisan groups are watching the vote and handing out information on how to vote.

Morgan, 28, split her ticket – voting Republican in the governor's race and Democrat in the battle for the Senate seat.

"I voted for Greg Abbott and then I voted for James Talarico."

The Senate race weighed heavily, she says: "I have two younger sisters, I have a lot of LGBTQ friends."

She didn’t like some of the messaging on minority issues coming out of the Republican candidate for Senate, Ken Paxton.

Vivian, arriving in an orange Mustang, voted Republican down the ballot. "Taxes, taxes, taxes - that's my main thing right now."

Brian backed the Democrats, citing "the current administration and essentially affordability".

Charlie is more positive. "I've been voting to help Texas go blue for the 15 years I've lived here. Hopefully this is the year."

Kind of, but not as you may know it.

It’s not like a UK election, where the exit poll predicts the overall outcome.

But the voter poll, as it's called, will be our first big clue about what has motivated voters on election day.

The first analysis from this huge survey of the American electorate will land in just under an hour at 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT).

It asks tens of thousands of people their opinions and top concerns about the country - and we’ll be able to look at how that differs by age, gender, education and other demographics as the night goes on.

The Democrats would need to win in at least three of six toss-up races if they are to take control of the Senate.

The Senate has 100 seats overall, meaning that 51 are needed for any one party to have a majority. Only a third of the seats are up for election today.

Currently, the Democrats have 45 to the Republicans' 53, with two held by independents.

There are six Senate races deemed to be a toss-up by independent elections analyst Cook Political Report - Alaska, Kansas, Iowa, Maine, Ohio and Texas.

Michigan had also been classed as a toss-up seat, but as of Tuesday afternoon was now deemed "leans Democrat".

In the House, all seats are up for grabs, and a party needs 218 seats for a majority.

Currently the Democrats have 214 and the Republicans 219. Two seats are currently vacant.

Trump hopes prolific campaigning will persuade supporters to turn out and votepublished at 21:01 GMT 3 November

21:01 GMT 3 November

Sarah Smith
North America editor

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump has repeatedly urged voters to behave as though his name is on the ballot in the mid term elections.

He hopes that, along with his prolific campaigning, will persuade his supporters to turn out and vote. Many of his Maga loyalists tend to vote in presidential elections and not bother with midterms.

But by making himself the centre of the Republican party’s campaign, President Trump is also risking driving voters who don’t like him and his polices to polling stations to vote against his candidates.

Polls suggest a surge in support for Democrats and major losses for Republicans. But polls have underestimated Donald Trump’s support in the past, so they may not be correct this year.

“If we don’t win the midterms, they’re going to blame me,” Trump said at a rally in Tennessee last month.

He might be right. We will soon find out.

Kayla Epstein
US reporter

For weeks, the US justice department has filed election-related lawsuits in states like California and Alaska, most of which are considered unprecedented.

Of late, cases brought by both the federal government and outside groups have been an uphill battle for the Trump administration. Here's the scorecard from this week:

• Yesterday, the US Supreme Court swiftly rejected its bid to exclude ballots from about 20,000 California voters the administration said were suspected of being non-citizens, a lawsuit that lost in lower courts. We have more on California here
• After a dramatic back and forth, an appeals court has ultimately decided to block a lower court’s order, which had barred the Trump administration from threatening California election officials with criminal prosecution over ballots cast by suspected non-citizens. The appeals court decision is a moderate win for the government.
• Over the weekend, a federal judge in Alaska dismissed the government's lawsuit seeking to halt certification of the Senate race's results if the incumbent Republican loses. You can read about that race here

States - not the federal government - run elections. That makes the Trump administration's actions extremely unusual, experts have told me. And we could see more litigation after the polls close.

Nada Tawfik
North America correspondent in Detroit, Michigan

Image source, Getty Images

Even before polls opened today, early voting had significantly outpaced the last midterm election in places with competitive Senate races.

Here in Michigan, more than 2.3 million voters cast their ballots early. That’s more than a third of the state’s registered voters.

The Democrats are feeling good about the numbers.

Democratic Representative Debbie Dingell has a solid track record predicting which way this swing state will go, including ahead of the 2016 election that President Trump won.

She believes the race is leaning towards her party's candidate for Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, based on her conversations with various groups.

He’s been climbing higher and higher in the polls. Also the independent, esteemed Cook Political Report has now changed its prediction for Michigan from "toss-up" to "lean Democrat".

As of last week, more than 43 million voters had already cast their ballots across the country, and overall turnout was on track to outpace 2020.