By 1 p.m. Eastern, Election Day voting locations will be open in all 50 states. Follow along for real-time updates throughout the day and as results come in tonight.
WASHINGTON — Election Day has begun in the U.S., with control of Congress and of state capitals hanging in the balance.
While many have already voted early in-person or submitted mail-in ballots, voting will conclude Tuesday as millions more head to the polls.
Election results are expected to begin coming in starting around 7 p.m. Eastern.
This story will provide live updates throughout the day and into the evening on control of the U.S. Senate and House, other major races and any significant news developments around the elections.
All times are Eastern.
11:20 a.m.
President Joe Biden was not expected to make any public appearances Tuesday as voters went to the polls.
Indeed, well before the lunch hour rolled in, the White House called a “lid.” It’s the lingo that means the president would spend the day in the executive mansion awaiting the results of vote counting that will decide political control of Congress and, with that, how the two years left in his term will play out.
Biden’s chief spokesperson, Karine Jean-Pierre, told reporters that Biden would have a full schedule Tuesday, including prepping for an upcoming trip to international summits in North Africa and Asia and watching the election results come in.
“We expect the president will address the elections the day afterwards,” Jean-Pierre said.
11:10 a.m.
Trump predicted Republicans would have a “great night” as he voted in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday morning. He told reporters outside the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center that he had voted to reelect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, even as the two could soon become rivals if — as many expect — they both run for president in 2024.
“I think we’re going to have a very big night and it’s going to be very exciting to watch,” he said.
Trump is planning an announcement in Florida next Tuesday, as AP’s Jill Colvin reports. Trump said Nov. 15 would “be a very exciting day for a lot of people.”
6:15 a.m.
Polls are beginning to open for in-person voting — by 1 p.m. Eastern, voting locations will be open in all 50 states (Hawaii is five hours behind the East Coast).
As fears of harassment of election officials and disruptions at polling places and tallying sites arise, election officials say they are prepared to handle potential issues. Voters should not be deterred, AP’s Christina A. Cassidy and Geoff Mulvihill report, and no major problems were reported during the early voting period.
The 2022 political climate has led to an unusually wide range of political territory up for grabs, as Republicans attempt to retake the House and Senate by criticizing the nation’s stumbling economy and the Biden administration’s handling of crime.
Democrats hope to capitalize on anger about the Supreme Court’s summer decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and promises of more policies being enacted if they are able to widen their majority.
Traditionally, the president’s party tends to lose seats in midterm elections. Democrats are going into Election Day with 220 representatives in the House, while Republicans control 212.
The Senate is a 50-50 split, with Democrats only maintaining the majority through the tiebreaker vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. A third of the chamber, 34 seats, are up for election this year.
While many analysts expect the Democrats to lose the House, control of Congress’ upper chamber could come down to a few key races, including Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.