First polls close in US midterms as election-night vote counting begins

WASHINGTON: The first polling stations closed in the US midterm elections Tuesday as voting ended in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, with election-night vote counting and reporting getting underway, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

Polls closed at 6pm local time (2300GMT) in areas of the two states operating on Eastern Time, while voting continued in their Central Time regions and across much of the country.

Election officials were expected to begin releasing initial results, although counting of some early and absentee ballots had already begun before polls closed.

Americans voted to elect all 435 members of the House of Representatives, 35 senators, governors in 36 states and other state and local officials.

Republicans entered Election Day controlling both chambers of Congress, while Democrats sought to gain control of at least one chamber and limit President Donald Trump's ability to advance his legislative agenda.

Additional polling stations are scheduled to close at 7pm Eastern Time in Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and several other states, with voting continuing into the night across western states. — BERNAMA