When Are the 2026 Midterm Elections? Exact November Date
The 2026 US midterms are Tuesday, November 3. See what voters elect that day and how the federal election date is set.
When Are the 2026 Midterm Elections? Exact November Date
Updated November 2, 2026 | U.S. English | Pre-election editorial edition
The 2026 U.S. midterm general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, in the month of November. That is the nationwide scheduled date for federal congressional voting, not the date of every earlier primary or every possible runoff.
The exact midterm date: November 3
The Federal Election Commission lists Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as the next regularly scheduled federal general-election date. The word “midterm” refers to the federal election two years into a presidential term. It is not a second presidential election.
If you are checking a calendar or planning Election Day transportation, use your local time zone and your state’s official voting-hours listing. A state may set distinct early-voting and absentee-ballot periods.
Why is Election Day on a Tuesday?
Federal law sets the regular day for congressional elections as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. That makes the date fall between November 2 and November 8. In 2026 the first Monday is November 2, so the following Tuesday is November 3.
The date rule applies to the regular federal general election. Special elections, primaries and contingent runoffs may be scheduled separately under applicable law.
What offices are decided on November 3?
The country elects all 435 voting members of the House of Representatives. The 2026 Senate map includes 33 regular contests and two special elections. Many states and local jurisdictions add governors, legislators, judicial positions or ballot questions.
The candidates on a voter’s ballot are based on state residency and electoral district. Someone in a different county may receive a substantially different ballot even on the same date.
What about the 2026 primary elections?
Primary dates were set by individual states, not by a single national midterm primary date. Many primaries happened months before November, and not every state used the same primary system. The November general election usually determines who takes office, subject to runoff rules and certification.
If a search result still discusses a May, June or August primary, check whether it is describing the now-completed nomination process rather than the election held on November 3.
Practical reminders for November 3
Check the correct assigned polling place and its local hours, then read any identification or ballot-return instructions that apply to you. Do not assume that early-voting locations and Election Day locations are interchangeable.
Official state and local election offices publish authoritative updates. A national page can tell you the date, but it cannot verify your specific registration record, address or polling site.
Frequently asked questions
What month are the 2026 midterms?
November 2026.
What day are the 2026 midterms?
Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Is there one national primary date?
No. States set different primary schedules.
Related guides
2026 US Midterm Elections: Dates, Races, Voting and Results — /topic/2026-midterm-elections/
What Are Midterm Elections? Meaning, Purpose and Timing — /topic/what-are-midterm-elections/
Editorial note
This guide was prepared using sources reviewed through November 2, 2026. Election procedures, candidate listings and ballot status should be checked against the relevant state or local election office before use. No November 3 vote result or election winner is asserted.