The midterm elections that will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Congress kicked off on November 3 (local time).

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

Polling stations in the U.S. open at different times by region, such as 6 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m., and 10 a.m.

In particular, because the U.S. spans across six time zones, voting cannot begin simultaneously nationwide.

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

The last state to close polls is Alaska, a fiercely contested battleground for the U.S. Senate, where voting wraps up at 1 a.m. on November 4, the day after Election Day, Eastern Time (3 p.m. on November 4, Korean time).

Vote counting will begin immediately after polls close, and the outline 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, which could delay the determination of the Senate majority status.

This election will choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 out of 100 senators, and 36 state governors.

Coming ahead of the midpoint of Donald Trump's second administration, the election carries the character of a midterm evaluation of President Trump's governance.

According to various opinion 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 Democratic Party takes control of both chambers, President Trump will face strong checks and oversight from Congress and can no longer expect sufficient budget support, which could lead to a lame-duck period.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)