Americans vote in crucial midterm elections

Polls have opened in the United States for crucial midterm elections that will determine whether President Donald Trump’s Republican Party retains control of Congress. Americans are voting for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 seats in the Senate, with Democrats seeking to regain control of one or both chambers. The elections are widely seen as a referendum on Trump’s presidency, with the cost of living, immigration and the war with Iran among the major issues driving voters. Voting is underway in an election that could dramatically alter the balance of power in Washington . Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, but Democrats are hoping to overturn those majorities and impose greater oversight on President Trump’s administration. Tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots through early voting, with turnout running ahead of the last midterm elections in 2022. The battle for control of the Senate will be decided in a handful of closely contested states, while Democrats are targeting Republican-held seats in the House. The first polls close at 6 pm on the eastern seaboard and are staggered across multiple time zones, with final results expected to take days. VIDEO | Wits Professor Gilbert Khadiagala says the US election will have an impact on the balance of power between the president and Congress: