First polls close in US midterm elections as vote counting begins

The first polling stations closed in the US midterm elections on Tuesday as voting ended in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, and election-night vote counting and reporting began, Anadolu Agency reported.

Polls closed at 6 p.m. local time (2300 GMT) in areas of the two states that observe Eastern Time. Voting continued in their Central Time regions and across much of the country.

Election officials were expected to begin releasing initial results. Counting of some early and absentee ballots had already started before polling stations closed.

Voters were choosing all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 senators, governors in 36 states, and other state and local officials.

Republicans entered Election Day in control of both chambers of Congress. Democrats were seeking to win control of at least one chamber and limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda.

More polling stations were scheduled to close at 7 p.m. Eastern Time in Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and several other states, while voting was set to continue into the night across western states.