How major networks will track voter choices and results in the 2026 midterms
As voters head to the polls for the 2026 midterms, major news networks are preparing extensive broadcast coverage and deploying detailed exit polling to capture voter motivations.
At a glance
- Voters are casting ballots to determine control of Congress and decide numerous gubernatorial and legislative races.
- Survey firm SSRS is conducting exit polls across over 450 polling locations in 15 Senate battleground states for a coalition of major news organizations.
- Broadcasters including NBC News and CBS News have scheduled continuous streaming and television coverage starting ahead of initial poll closures.
As the nation approaches the 2026 midterm elections, media organizations are putting final preparations in place to track results and analyze voter behavior. Control of Congress and President Trump's legislative agenda hang in the balance as citizens vote across the country in House, Senate, and gubernatorial contests.
To understand what drives the electorate, networks rely on comprehensive surveying tools like exit polls alongside continuous live reporting as ballots are counted across different time zones.
Gathering voter insights through exit polls
For this year's midterm elections, exit polls are being administered by SSRS on behalf of a consortium of news organizations, including NBC News, CBS News, ABC News, CNN, Fox News, and The Associated Press.
Interviewers are stationed at more than 450 polling locations across 15 Senate battleground states to distribute paper questionnaires. The sample size in most of these targeted states reaches about 4,000 voters, incorporating early and mail-in ballots through pre-election telephone, mail, and online surveys. The national sample aims to include over 75,000 respondents while maintaining complete anonymity for participants.
Broadcasting election night results
Television networks and streaming platforms have scheduled extensive programming to guide viewers through the staggered closing of state polls. Initial voting locations begin closing at 7 p.m. ET in states like Georgia and South Carolina, with subsequent closures extending westward until late into the night.
CBS News announced live coverage beginning on cable and streaming platforms, featuring specialized data segments and updates from local station markets across fifteen regions. Meanwhile, NBC News stated that its decision desk utilizes exit poll metrics to help project outcomes while withholding numbers that might indicate a race winner until all state polls have closed.
Understanding the scope of the midterms
The 2026 midterms represent a critical test of legislative power, involving all 435 seats in the House of Representatives alongside 35 Senate contests and 36 state gubernatorial races. The deployment of extensive polling and continuous broadcast coverage reflects the high stakes surrounding federal policymaking and executive priorities.
The combination of real-time demographic data collection and staggered reporting times means viewers will receive a gradual picture of shifting political dynamics as results emerge across different regions.
What to watch: Watch for the initial release of exit poll data after 5 p.m. ET and the first wave of poll closures starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Reporting from: NBC News, CBS News. Spotted an error? Tell us.
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