Voters decide House and Senate control as federal monitors reach all 50 states
Nearly 60 million Americans voted early ahead of Tuesday's election, where all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are contested.
By Madison Darwish ·
American voters decide on Tuesday which party controls the U.S. Congress, a result that will define President Donald Trump's legislative power for the next two years. The election pits candidates for all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats against each other, alongside hundreds of local races.
Participation numbers reflect a heavy use of pre-election voting. Nearly 60 million citizens cast ballots before Tuesday, either in person or by mail, according to Pew Research Center data. This figure represents a portion of the roughly 250 million eligible voters nationwide.
Analysts caution that early vote totals do not predict the final winner. Even in states that release party registration data, registered affiliations do not always align with the candidate a voter ultimately supports. Consequently, the early numbers offer limited insight into which party is gaining ground.
The Justice Department is conducting its first nationwide monitoring effort that spans all 50 states. The agency deployed approximately 1,000 election monitors and observers to oversee the process. Their duties include checking compliance with federal voting rights laws, specifically regarding voter intimidation protections and disability access requirements.
The final tally may take time to compute. Close contests and the processing of outstanding mail-in ballots could delay the determination of congressional control beyond election night.
Source: KCTV5
