Early voting opens in key U.S. midterm races with control of Congress in play

Early voting is beginning in the U.S. midterm elections, launching the final phase of a campaign that could determine which party controls Congress after Election Day. In-person voting opened in Virginia on Friday, September 18, 2026, and absentee voting options are also available in some other states, putting the first ballots in play while the broader fight for the House and Senate intensifies.

The opening of early voting matters because the midterms will shape the balance of power in Washington and the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. Republicans currently hold both chambers, and a shift in either the House or Senate would change the agenda on legislation, oversight and investigations. Election administrators in states taking part in early voting say they are prepared and confident the vote will be accurate and secure.

The early ballots are being cast against a politically charged backdrop. Voting rights groups and Democratic officials have been warning about attempts to influence election administration, while Trump has pressed efforts to reshape how Americans vote, including fights over mail ballots and voter registration rules. State election systems, however, are generally run by state officials under powers set by the Constitution.

Battles over voting rules loom over the campaign

In Virginia, early voting comes as voters are also weighing constitutional questions and congressional races that could help decide which party gains leverage in the next Congress. Elsewhere, states such as Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota allow absentee ballots to be cast in person, expanding the number of voters who can participate before Election Day. Officials in Minnesota urged voters not to be swayed by claims that could undermine confidence in election operations.

The campaign now turns on turnout, timing and trust in the process. Early voting often gives campaigns a chance to bank votes before late-breaking developments can change the race, and election officials say it can also reduce pressure on Election Day polling places. As more states open their voting windows in the coming weeks, control of Congress will hinge on whether Democrats can make gains in enough competitive districts and states to break Republican majorities.

For voters, the first ballots of the cycle mark the point at which campaign rhetoric becomes action. For parties and candidates, they signal the start of the sprint that will end with the November vote and the official count that follows.