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See where votes are being counted in Senate and House midterm races
The Washington Post • • nation
Key Points:
- Election result tabulation speeds vary significantly by state, with Florida and Iowa nearly finished hours after polls closed in 2024, while California and Washington had counted less than 30% a day later.
- Key 2026 battleground states like Maine and Alaska are expected to be slow counters, potentially delaying final results in important Senate races.
- Control of the Senate hinges on seven toss-up races, including slow-counting states Maine and Alaska, with some results likely decided only after all votes are tallied.
- The "red mirage" phenomenon occurs as rural, Republican-leaning areas report results faster than urban centers, temporarily skewing early returns toward Republicans.
- The House is projected to flip to Democratic control, but close races and slow counting in some areas may delay final calls for a day or more after Election Day.
