When will the US midterm results be known?

The first results from the US midterm elections are expected after 23:00 GMT, but they may say little about which party will control Congress. The outcome could take hours, days or longer to become clear, depending on how close key races are and how quickly states count their ballots.

The first polls close at 23:00 GMT in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. Several closely watched Senate contests follow: polls close in Ohio at 00:30 GMT and Maine at 01:00 GMT. Voting ends in Alaska, the last of the seven battleground states highlighted in the report, at 06:00 GMT.

Early results from Kentucky, Indiana and Vermont are expected to come from areas considered safe for Republicans or Democrats. More consequential signals may emerge from competitive races, including Ohio, Maine, Michigan, Kansas, Texas, Iowa and Alaska. But media projections are not final counts: broadcasters and other outlets call races when they judge that a candidate’s lead cannot be overcome.

The House requires 218 seats for a majority. In the Senate, 51 seats is an outright majority; a 50-50 split gives control to the vice-president’s party through the tie-breaking vote. Democrats would need to win four of the seven Senate contests rated toss-ups, as well as four seats classed as likely or leaning Democratic, to reach 51, according to the BBC report.

There is no single national counting timetable. States set their own rules for processing and counting votes. Some process early and postal ballots before election day; others begin counting on 3 November. Close margins can also lead to recounts or legal challenges. California, for example, counts ballots posted by election day if they arrive within seven days.

The 2022 midterms show how uneven the timetable can be. The fight for Congress remained close the day after polling, and a House majority was not projected until 17 November. Nevada’s Senate count took four days, while Georgia’s seat was decided in a run-off on 7 December.

Once counting and any recounts are complete, results go through local and state certification. The new members of Congress are due to take office on 3 January.