2026 Midterm Elections Bring New Voting Formats and High Stakes

Voters across the United States are casting their ballots on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in a midterm election cycle that features heightened political stakes and changes in how exit polling data is collected and reported. Traditional exit polls have evolved into the CNN Voter Poll, a comprehensive survey effort designed to explain how and why the electorate made its decisions.

The updated polling methodology combines traditional in-person exit surveys with a large-scale nationwide survey conducted prior to Election Day. Fielded by SSRS on behalf of CNN and several other major news organizations including ABC, the Associated Press, CBS, Fox News, MS NOW, and NBC, the Voter Poll incorporates interviews from roughly 100,000 voters. Nearly 80,000 participants took part in a pre-election survey between October 19 and November 3, while approximately 22,000 voters are expected to participate in in-person exit interviews across 15 states with competitive races.

While political analysts note that traditional exit polls can have limited utility during midterms, experts emphasize that certain data points, such as overall turnout rates among specific party bases, remain crucial. The nationwide survey features a margin of error of plus or minus 0.6 percentage points for the full national sample, with larger margins expected for individual states and demographic subgroups.

Nationwide, control of Congress remains a central focus as voters decide the balance of power in Washington. Democrats need to net a small number of House seats to gain the majority, while several competitive Senate races across the country will determine control of the upper chamber. Early results and competitive districts, such as Indiana's Fifth Congressional District and various races in states like Florida and South Carolina, are expected to provide early indicators of potential political waves.

At the local level, municipalities are also deciding key contests. In Scottsdale, Arizona, voters are settling a fiery race for the final two at-large City Council seats. The runoff election features incumbent Barry Graham and former state legislator Michelle Ugenti-Rita running on a joint conservative platform against challenger Raoul Zubia, addressing local issues such as development limits and water security amid regional drought conditions.

State election officials have issued strict guidelines for voters casting ballots in person on Election Day. In North Carolina, more than 2,600 polling places are open, requiring voters to visit their assigned locations, present an acceptable photo ID, and adhere to regulations prohibiting ballot photography and voter intimidation.

As the evening progresses, initial results from early-closing states will begin to trickle in, though final determinations for control of the Senate and several tight congressional races may take days or even weeks to finalize depending on the tightness of the margins and local counting procedures.