When is the presidential election
The gist
US voters go to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats.
The results decide control of Congress and 36 governorships, shaping the rest of Trump's term.
How it unfolded
- Jan 23, 1845Congress passed a law setting a common date for choosing presidential electors: the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.
- Sep 4, 2026Mail-in voting opened in some states that allow it ahead of the November 3 elections.
- Nov 3, 2026Midterm elections are held, with all 435 House seats and 35 of 100 Senate seats up, plus 36 governorships and thousands of state and local offices. The last polling stations in Hawaii and Alaska close between midnight and 1 am ET.