The 2026 United States midterm elections have begun following a significant surge in early voting, with more than 57 million Americans reportedly casting their ballots before Election Day.
The high level of early participation is drawing attention as voters across the country make decisions that could determine the political direction of the United States over the next two years.
According to figures cited by CBS News and the University of Florida Election Lab, more than 57 million people had already voted before Tuesday’s election.
The figure exceeds the approximately 46 million early votes recorded during the 2022 midterm elections.
The increased participation comes amid an intensely contested political environment, with both Republicans and Democrats seeking to strengthen their positions in Congress.
Early voting has become an increasingly important part of the American electoral process, allowing eligible voters to cast ballots before the official election date through in-person early voting and mail-in voting.
Today’s election will determine the membership of the entire House of Representatives and more than one-third of the Senate.
Political observers will be watching closely to determine whether the strong early participation translates into increased overall turnout and whether it benefits either political party.
With millions of additional voters expected to participate on Election Day, the final turnout figures could provide an important indication of public engagement in this year’s elections.
