Federal Monitors Watch Every State as 60 Million Vote Early

Nearly 60 million Americans cast their ballots before Election Day Tuesday, either through early in-person voting or by mail. These early votes represent a portion of the roughly 250 million eligible voters, according to Pew Research Center. However, early totals alone do not indicate which party is gaining ground, as party registration does not always predict candidate support.

The current election cycle marks a shift in federal oversight. The Justice Department announced it is deploying approximately 1,000 election monitors and observers across all 50 states. This is the first time the department has conducted a monitoring effort that reaches every state. These observers are tasked with ensuring compliance with federal voting rights laws, including protections against voter intimidation and requirements for accessibility for voters with disabilities.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot, along with hundreds of local races. The results will determine which party controls Congress and shape President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his agenda during the next two years. The outcome of this vote will define the legislative landscape for the coming term.

Polls open on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. Once polls close, close contests and the time needed to count outstanding ballots could leave control of Congress unsettled beyond election night. Voters are currently casting ballots in states that have already reported early voting figures.

The Justice Department’s deployment of monitors represents a new scale of federal involvement in the election process. Observers are positioned to watch for compliance with specific federal statutes regarding voter access and conduct. The results of this monitoring effort will be part of the record for the 2026 midterms.