Election Day (United States)

Broward County's Supervisor of Elections, Joe Scott, is urging voters to hand-deliver mail-in ballots after complaints of slow postal delivery, with some ballots taking nearly two weeks to arrive or failing to arrive at all; the U.S. Postal Service says it is investigating. Neighboring Miami-Dade County reported no similar delays. In Philadelphia, officials highlighted security at the city's Election Warehouse and urged roughly 40,000 voters still holding mail ballots to return them in person, noting postmarks do not count. In Ohio, heavy early voting turnout in Franklin County has strained absentee mail delivery, with some overseas ballots stalled in transit as the Election Day deadline nears.

Elsewhere, Knox County, Tennessee reported more than 102,000 early votes cast ahead of its November 3 election, with officials reminding absentee voters that completed ballots must reach the county election commission by the close of polls on Election Day, not simply be postmarked by then.

Ahead of Nov. 3 elections, early voting has topped recent midterm totals in multiple states. In Ohio, nearly 1.5 million ballots were cast by Oct. 30 — about 907,000 in person and 580,000 by mail — exceeding 2018 and 2022 totals, with voters favoring in-person voting over mail ballots. In Missouri's St. Louis County, more than 130,000 people voted early, already surpassing the county's entire 2022 midterm early-voting turnout, aided by an expansion from seven to 200 polling sites.

Ohio's races include every statewide executive office plus U.S. Senate and House seats that could shift Washington's balance of power; unaffiliated voters lead turnout there, narrowly ahead of Democrats and Republicans. Missouri officials caution strong early turnout doesn't guarantee a higher overall total, noting 2024's election-day surge. Ohio's early in-person voting ends Nov. 1, with ballots due by 7:30 p.m. on Election Night.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he could stop or alter certification of the state's U.S. Senate result if an investigation he ordered finds illegal conduct tied to Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign. The probe follows a New York Times report, sourced partly to Peltola's fired former campaign manager, alleging Peltola advisers and DSCC aides helped recruit a second "Dan Sullivan" to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola has denied knowledge of the scheme, and the DSCC denies involvement. The Justice Department has sued to block certification of any winner but Sullivan pending review. Days after the Times report, the second Sullivan, a retired Petersburg teacher, was seen leaving his hometown; residents there said they had seen no campaign activity on his behalf.

Federal prosecutors are separately investigating how Sullivan entered the race, with the inquiry expected to continue past Election Day. The allegations remain a partisan flashpoint, with debate over whether the recruitment scheme amounts to voter deception or whether efforts to block certification constitute their own interference.

Colorado People's Alliance and Colorado Black Women for Political Action hosted a nonpartisan "ballot block party" in Denver's historically Black Five Points neighborhood ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. With 14 statewide ballot measures plus local races and judicial questions, organizers aimed to demystify complex ballot language rather than endorse candidates or positions, partnering with the nonpartisan group Count Me In. Attendees discussed measures touching immigration, economic policy and law enforcement, then filled out ballots and walked together to a nearby drop box. Organizers said the event addressed voter fatigue and fear, and both groups plan continued outreach in Aurora, Northglenn and beyond through Election Day.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton toured the Youngstown Business Incubator and rallied in Liberty, stressing ties to Mahoning and Trumbull counties ahead of Election Day against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton has repeatedly addressed a Ramaswamy-backed ad featuring her estranged mother, calling her a liar and alleging mental health issues; Gov. Mike DeWine called it exploitative. Both candidates are closing with pitches on Ohio's affordability crisis, with Ramaswamy touting his business background and property-tax executive orders, and Acton emphasizing public-service experience, a working families tax cut, and school funding.

Ramaswamy has self-funded and outspent Acton nearly $80 million to $34 million overall, though Acton has outraised him recently; both have shattered Ohio's gubernatorial fundraising record, and neither has held elected office before. Democrats are banking on a late push, including a Cleveland rally with Barack Obama and expanded early voting, as prediction markets show Acton favored heading into Election Day.

Philadelphia officials are ramping up security ahead of Election Day in the midterm elections. The District Attorney's Office is activating its Election Task Force, deploying 50 assistant district attorneys to respond to voting issues and operating a hotline for reported problems. The Department of Justice also plans to send federal election monitors to the city, a practice officials noted has occurred in previous elections.

Voters expressed mixed reactions, with some welcoming the added oversight and others voting early out of caution. Under Pennsylvania law, voters in line by 8 p.m. cannot be turned away. The task force will stay active until all votes are counted.

More than 6.4 million Texans cast ballots during early voting, surpassing the state's previous non-presidential-year record of 5.5 million set in 2018. The figures exclude mail-in ballots. Analysts point to the closely watched Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, now the most expensive Senate contest in history with over $560 million in combined ad spending, as the main driver of turnout. The governor's race between Greg Abbott and Gina Hinojosa, plus growth in suburban counties like Collin County, also contributed. Some experts project total turnout could reach 10 million votes, which would break the state's all-time midterm record.

Election Day voting runs Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.