Voters Head to Polls Across the United States for the 2026 Midterm Elections
Americans nationwide are casting ballots in key midterm races while astronauts participate remotely from the International Space Station.
Voters across the United States headed to the polls on Tuesday for the 2026 midterm elections, with long lines forming at polling locations in regions like the Chicago area and high turnout reported in Texas. Polls generally remain open until 7 p.m. local time, and individuals who are in line before closing time maintain their legal right to cast a ballot.
In El Paso, Texas, election participation surged following a record-breaking early voting period that saw more than 156,000 residents cast ballots prior to Election Day. Local officials noted that in-person turnout on Tuesday quickly added thousands more votes, putting the county on pace to potentially surpass the midterm voter-turnout record established in 2018.
Texas voters are deciding several high-stakes contests, including a competitive U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton, as well as a gubernatorial matchup featuring incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa. President Donald Trump reiterated his support for Paxton on social media, encouraging his base to support the candidate.
Voters searching for their designated polling locations faced varying rules depending on their jurisdiction. While some counties across Texas and Illinois permit registered voters to cast their ballots at any designated vote center within the county, other areas require individuals to vote at their specific precinct polling place based on their residential address.
Logistical adjustments were implemented in several communities to accommodate voters. In El Paso, the transportation authority offered free door-to-door rides for qualified residents in select areas, while two local school districts released students early to ease traffic and accommodate school buildings functioning as active voting centers. Meanwhile, voters near one El Paso library faced detours following a water main break.
Even individuals far beyond Earth's atmosphere participated in the electoral process. NASA astronauts Anil Menon, Luke Delaney, and Jessica Watkins successfully cast their ballots from the International Space Station, utilizing electronic forms transmitted securely to election officials in Harris County, Texas.
The process from space involves filling out an encrypted electronic ballot that travels via NASA tracking systems to a ground antenna in New Mexico, before passing through Mission Control and ultimately reaching the appropriate county clerk. This remote voting capability has been utilized by American astronauts since 1997 under Texas legislation designed for citizens away from home.