What Americans are voting for in this election

Americans are heading to the polls for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, with ballots that include contests for Congress as well as state and local offices.

Every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives is contested during a midterm election. About one-third of the Senate seats are also contested. The results will determine which party controls each chamber of Congress for the next two years.

The ballot extends beyond Washington. Depending on the jurisdiction, voters may choose candidates for state legislative, executive and judicial offices. Some ballots also ask voters to approve or reject proposed state or local laws and policies through ballot measures.

A BBC video credited to journalist Maddie Gerber explains what appears on the ballot and how the results could affect the balance of power in Washington. The BBC listing says Americans are voting in the 2026 midterms on 3 November.

The available research confirms the video’s subject and the general structure of midterm ballots. It does not provide enough verified detail to describe specific races, candidates, issues or ballot measures in individual states.