The United States is experiencing a particularly intense electoral day this Tuesday, November 3, 2026. As Americans are called to renew both chambers of Congress, over 59 million voters have already cast their ballots early. Technical incidents, judicial controversies, and significant political polarization accompany this election, which will determine Donald Trump's maneuverability for the last two years of his term.
Across the fifty U.S. states, polling stations have been welcoming voters for several hours. The stakes are considerable: renewing all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, filling 35 Senate seats, and electing governors in 36 states.
Beyond this institutional framework, these elections occur in a context of deep divisions regarding the economy, immigration, federal spending, and the international choices of the Trump administration.
Over 59 million Americans have already voted
Even before the polling stations opened on Tuesday, participation figures indicated significant mobilization.
According to the University of Florida Election Lab, cited by CBS News, over 59 million Americans had already cast their early votes.
This figure illustrates the growing importance of early voting in the American electoral system, where rules vary by state.
However, it does not allow for determining the final result, as information regarding submitted ballots does not necessarily reveal voters' electoral preferences.
Turnout on Election Day could also play a crucial role in constituencies where both major parties have a comparable electorate.
New York: technical malfunctions disrupt the vote
Election Day has been marked by technical problems in Westchester County, in New York State.
Scanners intended to process ballots encountered malfunctions, causing difficulties at several polling places.
According to reports by the American press, these issues could affect up to 250,000 ballots, though this does not mean that these votes have been lost or invalidated.
Local authorities assured that the votes would be counted.
The incident draws particular attention because this area includes part of New York’s 17th Congressional District, where a significant competition for the House of Representatives is taking place.
Electoral officials urged citizens not to give up voting despite possible queues.
This episode highlights the complexity of a system where the logistical organization of elections largely falls to local authorities.
In Maine, enhanced monitoring of polling stations
Another notable development: in the city of Lewiston, Maine, observers from the U.S. Department of Justice have been deployed to a polling station frequented by voters from Somali, Angolan, and Eritrean communities.
According to information gathered by the Guardian, federal observers spent several hours onsite and questioned election officials about their procedures.
Armed police were also present inside and outside the polling station.
This monitoring follows reports of suspected voter intimidation and fraud during the early voting period.
No conclusions of fraud are established by these facts alone.
In the same state, police are also investigating reported acts of vandalism outside a district office of Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Donald Trump under national scrutiny regarding his policies
These elections represent the main national electoral test since the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term in January 2025.
The American president has called on Republican voters to mobilize to maintain his party's majority in Congress.
On November 2, in his final calls for participation, he stated that his party could achieve a significant victory as long as his supporters showed up in large numbers at the polls.
His administration is particularly defending its positions on immigration, security, taxation, and international trade.
For their part, Democrats focus part of their criticisms on the cost of living, economic policies, executive decisions, and the consequences of Washington’s international strategy.
Thus, the election takes the form of a confrontation over the record of Trump's first two years in office.
The war against Iran enters the electoral debate
The situation in the Middle East has also surged into the final hours of the campaign.
As American military operations against Iran occupy a significant place in international news, the economic and strategic consequences of the conflict fuel political divergences in the United States.
This Tuesday, Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, publicly criticized the way some leaders of his own party present the war against Iran and its impact on fuel prices.
This position illustrates the debates that are also happening within the conservative camp regarding foreign policy and its economic repercussions.
Donald Trump simultaneously mentioned, in an interview with Fox News, a significant reduction of American aid to Israel by the end of the year.
These statements come at a time when America’s foreign commitments are part of the issues discussed by political leaders and voters.
A new judicial controversy around voting in Alaska
In Alaska, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice is also drawing attention.
According to CBS News, federal authorities are examining suspicions of maneuvers intended to confuse voters by presenting a candidate with the same name as an outgoing Republican senator.
Democratic attorney Marc Elias is reportedly among those targeted by the investigators' actions, according to information published by the American media.
Letters for document preservation, notifications, and subpoenas have reportedly been sent to several individuals or organizations as part of this procedure.
These investigations do not constitute proof of guilt and do not allow for the conclusion of electoral fraud at this stage.
However, the case adds a judicial dimension to a campaign already marked by numerous political confrontations.
House of Representatives: a majority that could shift with a few seats
The House of Representatives is one of the main stakes of the election.
Republicans are defending a narrow majority, while Democrats are seeking to attain at least 218 seats.
In several districts, the competition is close enough that limited differences in turnout or votes could determine the outcome.
Control of the House is particularly important for budgetary matters and oversight of the federal administration.
A Democratic majority could, in particular, initiate further congressional investigations and impose tougher negotiations on the White House.
Conversely, maintaining a Republican majority would preserve a more favorable legislative environment for the president's initiatives.
Senate: 35 seats at the center of another battle
In the Senate, Republicans currently hold 53 seats, compared to 47 for the Democratic group, including independents.
Thirty-five seats are up for election this year.
Democrats need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority that allows them to control the chamber without relying on a tie-breaking vote from Republican Vice President JD Vance.
Eleven Senate races are being closely followed by CBS News: Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Alaska.
The outcome of these elections will be crucial for the confirmations of presidential nominations and for Congress's ability to pass certain laws.
The initial results are not yet decisive
At the time of this update, the main polling places in the continental U.S. have not all closed yet.
The first closures are scheduled to start at 7 PM on the East Coast, which is midnight in Morocco and 1 AM in France.
American media are also tracking early results from territories in the Pacific, including Guam.
However, these results do not allow for determining the future control of Congress.
Balloting and seat allocation will continue throughout the American night, and some very close races may require more time.
Why the whole world is watching these elections
The election result could change the dynamics between the White House and the American legislative body.
Congress plays an important role in public finances, military spending, economic sanctions, and some international commitments.
A new parliamentary configuration could thus influence negotiations on international conflicts, trade relations, and American budget priorities.
For the partners of the United States, especially Morocco, the composition of congressional committees dealing with foreign affairs and defense is an element of concern.
The strategic relations between Rabat and Washington, however, remain based on a long-standing institutional cooperation that transcends the mere composition of Congress.
A decisive political night begins
With over 59 million early votes, technical incidents at some polling places, judicial controversies, and intense national mobilization, the 2026 midterm elections are taking place in a particularly charged atmosphere.
The real stakes will become apparent as the votes are counted: will voters maintain the current institutional balance or give Congress a new political configuration?
For Donald Trump, it is about understanding the conditions under which he can continue his second term until January 2029.
For the Democrats, the goal is to strengthen their institutional presence and capacity for oversight.
One thing is certain: the results that will begin to emerge tonight will redraw the balance of power in Washington, with consequences that may be felt well beyond American borders.
