MIDTERMS: Texas, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, and South Carolina kick off early voting

Early voting for the nation's midterm elections began on Monday, Oct. 19, in several states, including Texas, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut and South Carolina, while Colorado continues its mail-in and in-person voting process.

This day marks a new phase in the electoral calendar leading up to the Nov. 3 election, in which the entire House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats will be up for grabs, in addition to numerous gubernatorial races, state legislatures and local offices.

In Texas, one of the states with the greatest electoral clout in the country, early in-person voting will continue through Oct. 30. The Texas secretary of state confirmed that there are 19,041,684 registered voters, a record number representing a 2.2% increase compared to the November 2024 general election.

A race for the U.S. Senate, the governorship and seats in Congress

Texas voters will decide, among other races, the outcomes of the race for the U.S. Senate, the governorship and congressional seats.

In Alaska, the Division of Elections confirmed the start of in-person and absentee early voting on Monday. Meanwhile, Arkansas also began its early voting period, according to the schedule published by its secretary of state.

In Connecticut, voters will be able to vote early through Nov. 1, while in South Carolina, early voting will be available through Oct. 31, with polling places open Monday through Saturday, except Sunday, Oct. 25.

Early voting allows citizens to exercise their right to vote before Election Day, although the requirements, hours, and procedures vary by state.

The election represents a political test for President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, which is seeking to maintain its majorities in both chambers of Congress. The Democrats are trying to regain legislative ground in an election that will define the balance of power in Washington during the final two years of the current presidential term.

In Colorado, in-person voting and voter assistance centers began operating on Monday, while the acceptance of absentee ballots continues. State law allows for the processing and counting of votes to begin as early as Oct. 19, but prohibits the release of results before polls close on Nov. 3.