The United States federal general election is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 November 2026, according to the Federal Election Commission. The vote falls midway through the four-year presidential term and is commonly called the midterm election.

As of the morning of 3 November in India, polling day is still ahead for much of the United States because of the time difference. Readers should check local election authorities for the latest information in their area.

What is on the ballot?

Voters choose members of the US House of Representatives, and Senate seats are also contested in this election cycle. Many states hold other contests at the same time, including state or local races and ballot questions. The exact ballot depends on where a voter lives.

How voting rules differ

Election administration is handled by state and local authorities, and arrangements for early voting, mail ballots, registration and polling hours vary. A voter should use their state or county election office’s current guidance to check polling locations, identification requirements and deadlines.

For example, Pennsylvania’s election authority lists 3 November as general election day and says completed civilian mail-in and absentee ballots must be received by county election offices by 8 pm that day. This is a state-specific rule and should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.

When will results be known?

The timing of counts and official certification varies by jurisdiction. Initial reporting can change as eligible ballots are processed; readers should distinguish preliminary results from certified totals.

Sources: US Federal Election Commission, election and voting information: https://www.fec.gov/introduction-campaign-finance/election-results-and-voting-information/ ; Pennsylvania Department of State, upcoming elections: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/vote/elections/upcoming-elections ; North Carolina State Board of Elections: https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election

Featured image: AI-generated ballot-box illustration by BRPever, Wikimedia Commons, CC0; not a photograph of the 2026 election. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:U4C_election_vote_box_for_diff.jpg