By — Amy Sherman, PolitiFact Amy Sherman, PolitiFact Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/when-will-we-know-2026-midterm-election-results-it-may-take-some-time-but-thats-normal Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter When will we know 2026 midterm election results? It may take some time, but that's normal Politics Oct 31, 2026 1:02 PM EDT This article originally appeared on PolitiFact. If you go to bed on election night and don't know who won a midterm congressional race, that's normal. And if you wake up the next morning and find that a candidate who was behind hours earlier has since pulled ahead, that's normal, too. That won't stop some politicians and their allies from spreading misinformation during vote counting. WATCH: How does The Associated Press call 2026 midterm election winners? 4 things to know In past elections, elected leaders, candidates and social media users have spread falsehoods that "late night" arrivals of "ballot dumps" or "suitcases" of ballots are signs of fraud, or that only Democratic-led cities take days to count votes. Some states such as Florida often complete the majority of their unofficial counts…
When will we know 2026 midterm election results? It may take some time, but that's normal
In short
The timing of unofficial election projections largely hinges on state-specific statutes governing the processing and delivery of mail-in ballots. Officials must meticulously verify voter signatures against registration files, a routine security practice that prevents immediate declarations in close contests. Batches of tabulated mail ballots can also cause early leads to fluctuate legitimately as tallies progress. Highly contested Senate races in states like Michigan, Maine, and Texas could take an extended period to decide overall chamber control.
Key points
- Delays in declaring election outcomes are standard procedure during closely contested rac…: Delays in declaring election outcomes are standard procedure during closely contested races and do not indicate fraud.
- Leads may naturally fluctuate as workers process batches of mail ballots that often favor…: Leads may naturally fluctuate as workers process batches of mail ballots that often favor a specific party.
- Voters can support smooth administrative operations by using secure drop boxes or mailing…: Voters can support smooth administrative operations by using secure drop boxes or mailing ballots at least a week early.