As Americans vote in Tuesday’s midterm elections, local officials will report preliminary totals while states follow separate certification schedules, so control of Congress will be assessed through individual race calls.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) describes election administration as decentralized across more than 10,000 jurisdictions, with practices that can differ even within a state. The EAC says local totals released after polls close are preliminary; states certify results after valid votes are accounted for and required post-election procedures are complete. Procedures can vary within a state, while certification deadlines differ by state.
Associated Press (AP) race calls are separate from state certification. AP says it calls an individual contest when the remaining vote can no longer allow the trailing candidate to overtake the leader. Its control calls tally 218 House seats or 51 Senate seats; 50 Senate seats can suffice when the vice president belongs to that party. The 218-seat House mark is a majority of its 435 voting seats.
The Associated Press’ account of its 2022 calls said its Senate control call came four days after Election Day. Its House call followed on Nov. 16 at 6:32 p.m. ET, eight days after the election, after Republicans secured their 218th seat.
Under the California Secretary of State’s 2026 calendar, vote-by-mail ballots postmarked by Election Day may arrive through Nov. 10. Counties have until Dec. 3 to certify results, and the secretary of state’s certified statement is due Dec. 11.
Alaska’s Division of Elections lists Nov. 18 for ranked-choice results, following the review and count of eligible ballots. That date concerns Alaska’s ranked-choice results.
