Election 2026 live updates: Americans cast their votes

Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reassured the public that Georgia's elections are secure and that results will come quickly.

"The big day is here, and Georgia's ready... We are the gold standard for election administration," Raffensperger said.

"We've seen Georgians turn out in record numbers during early voting," he added.

Raffensperger said that he expects the early vote to be uploaded by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

"Quick results tonight. You know, all of you don't want to be here till three o'clock in the morning. Neither do I," Raffensperger said. "The counties understand that, and they don't want to be there till three o'clock in the morning. So be working really hard and then uploading those results at 8 p.m."

He said that roughly 1,000 early ballots that need to be rescanned in Fulton County as a precaution will not delay the election results.

"With Fulton, approximately 1,000 ballots from advance voting will be rescanned as the equipment was taken out of service as a precaution due to screen errors. But this will not delay the results in any way," Raffensperger said.

According to Raffensperger, one precinct in Mitchell County opened 10 minutes late; he said that if "they need 10 minutes late at the end of the day, they'll be adding that."

-ABC News’ Halle Troadec

Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton voted in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday morning, as the state's closely watched race for governor begins.

Acton is facing off against Republican candidate and former businessman Vivek Ramaswamy in a race jostled by controversial ads and bitter campaigning.

Speaking to reporters after casting her ballot, Acton expressed optimism about her chances of winning.

“The energy of folks, there's actual joy and hope out here, and watching people with one another, I almost feel like I'm watching it instead of being in the middle of it,” Acton said. “So it's a great uplifting feeling. We didn't get here overnight in Ohio. We have a lot of work ahead of us, so we're going to need that energy because I'm going to be asking more of everybody as we move forward.”

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Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton votesSpeaking to reporters after casting her ballot, Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton expressed optimism about her chances of winning against Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

WSYX

She also said Ohioans are struggling with costs and looking for someone to bring the temperature down.

Acton said she sees Ohio as a bellwether: “I do think we are ground zero for decency and compassion and integrity being on the ballot, and I am very hopeful that we'll see that continue to grow.”

-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Diana Paulsen

Speaking to reporters before casting his ballot in Columbus Tuesday morning, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged challenges facing voters.

“It is a tough time. There's no doubt about it,” he said. “People are looking not just to make ends meet, but get ahead… This election, especially for the role of governor, just comes down to who's going to allow your family to live a better life.”

“I've been a candidate the whole time. But today, I was also wearing my hat as a voter. And as I think about every other voter who's checking that box next to my name, or frankly anything on that ballot, I want them to hold me, hold all of us on this ticket accountable to deliver for them,” Ramaswamy added after casting his ballot.

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Ramaswamy on Election Day: 'It's a tough time'Speaking to reporters before casting his ballot in Columbus Tuesday morning, Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy acknowledged challenges facing voters.

ABCNews.com

Ramaswamy did not directly discuss his opponent, Democrat Amy Acton.

-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Diana Paulsen

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC news on Tuesday morning that he expects Democrats will win control of the Senate and he will be the next Senate majority leader.

Talking to reporters shortly after he voted in Brooklyn, Schumer described his mood as "nauseously optimistic." If Democrats regain the house majority, it would be "up to" Trump on whether to work with them, Schumer said.

"Look, it'll be up to him. The American people want us to do things that make their lives better. Trump has refused to listen to them," Schumer said. "He's even, at time to time, sort of dissed those costs, those kinds of things that people are caring about of costs and things like that. Will he change? I don't think I don't know. But we're going to fight Trump tooth and nail and focus on the issues no matter what he does."

Schumer previously served as majority leader between 2021 and 2025.

Asked whether Democrats would seek to work with the president or whether they would seek to hold him accountable, Schumer said that would in some ways be up to Trump.

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Schumer 'nauseously optimistic' Democrats will control SenateTalking to reporters shortly after he voted in Brooklyn, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described his mood as "nauseously optimistic."

ABCNews.com

"We'll see if he will actually change his ways and join," Schumer said. "But whether he does or not, because I don't think he will, we are going to keep fighting for the people and doing what they asked us to do. We're listening to them. Trump is not."

-ABC News' Jonathan Karl