Midterm elections 2026: how are votes counted and when will we know the results?

Key Points:

• US votes are cast in person during early voting or on election day, with many also voting by mail; some states send mail ballots to all voters, while others require a request for one.
• Mail ballots postmarked by election day may be counted for days afterward, a practice upheld by the US Supreme Court, with paper ballots typically tabulated by machines and verified by audits.
• Curing periods allow voters to verify or correct mail ballot information, often causing these ballots to be counted last, and tabulation times vary based on population size and voting access rules.
• Election results are unofficial until canvassed and certified by local authorities, with automatic recounts triggered in very close races, potentially delaying final outcomes.
• News organizations like the Associated Press call winners based on early unofficial results when highly confident, but official counts and certifications continue regardless of media calls, and some races can take days or weeks to call.