Where Is Trump's Fate Headed... U.S. Midterm Election Main Voting Begins

The midterm elections, which will determine the future balance of power in the U.S. Congress, kicked off on the 3rd (local time).

Voting began in parts of Vermont at 5 a.m. Eastern Time on this day (7 p.m. Korea time).

In the U.S., voting start times vary by region, including 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., and 10 a.m.

In particular, the U.S. uses a total of six time zones, making it difficult for voting to begin simultaneously nationwide.

Voting closing times also vary by state, ranging from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The latest polls to close are in Alaska, a fiercely contested battleground for the U.S. Senate, which will wrap up voting at 1 a.m. on the 4th, the day after the election, Eastern Time (3 p.m. on the 4th, Korea time).

Vote counting will proceed immediately after polls close, and the outcome of which party will win the House majority could become clear late into the night.

However, some states implement unique electoral systems such as ranked-choice voting, meaning the determination of the Senate majority could be delayed.

This election will select all 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 senators, and 36 governors.

Coming ahead of the midpoint of the second Donald Trump administration's term, the election serves as a midterm evaluation of President Trump's governance.

According to various poll results, the race for the House has rapidly tilted toward the Democratic Party, and projections suggest the Democrats also hold the advantage in the Senate.

If the Democrats sweep both chambers of Congress, President Trump would face strong checks and oversight from the legislature, as well as a lack of sufficient budgetary support, which could plunge him into a lame-duck status.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.