Voters across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are heading to polling stations on Election Day as the 2026 midterm elections begin to shape the balance of power in Washington.
The contests are being closely watched for their potential impact on control of Congress, with results expected to emerge after polls close and ballots are counted throughout the evening.
Voting began at 6am in New York, where polling stations remain open until 9pm. Polls close at 8pm in both New Jersey and Connecticut, although anyone already in line by closing time will still be allowed to vote.
Westchester ballot scanner problems
Some voters in Westchester County, New York, faced disruption after ballot scanners at polling sites began rejecting paper ballots shortly after opening.
The county Board of Elections said voting could continue and instructed residents to complete their ballots as normal. Ballots that could not be scanned were being placed in secure orange emergency bags for counting under election procedures.
Officials initially investigated whether the problem involved the paper ballots or the machines. The New York State Board of Elections later said the difficulty had been traced to an update to the county’s election programming after equipment had been prepared and tested.
Republican Congressman Mike Lawler, whose closely watched race in New York’s 17th Congressional District includes much of Westchester, urged voters to remain at polling stations and cast their ballots. Democratic challenger Cait Conley also told residents not to be deterred by the disruption.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office was monitoring the situation and reassured voters that ballots could still be safely submitted and would be counted.
Election officials across the tri-state region are expected to issue updates as voting continues, with the first results likely to follow the closure of polls in New Jersey and Connecticut before New York finishes voting an hour later.
