Midterms 2026: Problems with voting machines, 23 polling stations relocated at short notice

For our live blog, in addition to our own research, we use material from the news agencies dpa, Reuters, epd, KNA, and Bloomberg. Important Updates AI companies brace against disinformation US Department of Justice dispatches 1000 poll watchers – mostly in democratically inclined districts 23 polling places in Florida relocated at short notice These are the most important matchups in the Midterms Problems with voting machines reported from the state of New York 23 polling places in Florida relocated at short notice Storm and rain have caused difficult conditions for the US parliamentary elections in some states. In Florida, 23 polling places were temporarily moved to other locations due to the risk of flooding. "For the safety of our poll watchers and voters (...) it is necessary to move some polling places to other premises due to these unprecedented circumstances," said the county election official to CNN. Rain spread across the middle states of the country, affecting among others Iowa, Kansas, and Texas, where important election decisions are pending. According to forecasts, the showers are expected to spread further north and east during the afternoon (local time) and reach parts of Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, as well as the upper half of Michigan. Anne Eberhard AI companies brace against disinformation Open AI and Anthropic want to prevent their AI chatbots from being used to disrupt the midterm elections. As the New York Times describes, Open AI set up a command center in San Francisco where more than a dozen employees work around the clock. It examines requests to ChatGPT that appeared to be attempts to create fake texts or images for the election and informs the affected platforms. Anthropic, the operator of the chatbot Claude, has also formed its own crisis team for the first time, according to the New York Times. Artificial Intelligence makes it much easier for users to create deepfakes and spread them on social networks. At the same time, platforms like Meta have reduced their security teams against disinformation related to elections in recent years. Experts warn that the technology can deliberately undermine trust in elections. Artificial Intelligence makes it much easier for users to create deepfakes and spread them on social networks. At the same time, platforms like Meta have reduced their security teams against disinformation related to elections in recent years. Experts warn that the technology can deliberately undermine trust in elections. Voting from the car and in church Not only the astronauts on the ISS, whom we mentioned earlier, are voting today in an unusual place: In Fort Worth, Texas, some people voted in a drive-in while still in their cars. They were protected from outside views by a cover over the voting machine. In the Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge in Iowa, a raccoon watched voters make their marks, as photos from Tuesday showed. And in New York, the vote was given in the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest with a special touch. US Department of Justice dispatches 1000 poll watchers – mostly in democratically inclined districts The US Department of Justice is dispatching 1000 poll watchers to all 50 states. This is the largest observation operation in the agency's history on election day, the Department announced. The number of watchers is about three times higher than in the last midterms. They are to examine compliance with federal election laws, according to the announcement. In the US, elections at the federal level are also organized by individual states according to their respective laws. According to an analysis by the Washington Post, almost two-thirds of the districts selected for election observation voted democratically throughout the last elections. The Department of Justice justifies its poll watchers with transparency, but Democrats fear the government could gain influence or sow doubt about the results. According to an analysis by the Washington Post, almost two-thirds of the districts selected for election observation voted democratically throughout the last elections. The Department of Justice justifies its poll watchers with transparency, but Democrats fear the government could gain influence or sow doubt about the results. Anne Eberhard These are the most important matchups in the Midterms According to polls, the winners in many states are already highly likely – they are traditionally in the hands of the Republicans or the Democrats. In other states, it will be a neck-and-neck race. While Democrats are surprisingly strong in classic Republican states like Texas, Alaska, or Kansas, they have astonishing problems elsewhere. In the traditionally Democratic states of Minnesota and Maine, and even more so in Michigan, these problems are more pronounced. Where will it be most exciting? Our US correspondents present to you eight of the most interesting matchups: Where will it be most exciting? Our US correspondents present to you eight of the most interesting matchups: Problems with voting machines reported from the state of New York The counting in Westchester County in the US state of New York is expected to take longer than planned. This is because there are problems with the voting machines there. The local election board was aware of "one problem regarding the thickness of the paper ballots," which caused the voting machines in the entire county to not accept the ballots, the authority shared in a statement. Election workers worked to "ensure that the election continues with the least interruptions" and "take all necessary steps to resolve the problem as quickly as possible." Every vote would be counted. Westchester County is a populous suburban area where a crucial fight for a seat in the House of Representatives is taking place. Carim Soliman Astronauts vote on board the ISS during US midterms US citizens have cast their votes for the parliamentary election from hundreds of kilometers above the Earth. "All three US crew members had the privilege of voting from the space station," wrote astronaut Anil Menon of the International Space Station ISS. "We filled out an electronic ballot and sent it safely to the election authorities." NASA astronauts have been able to participate in US elections from space since 1997. According to the US space agency, astronauts fill out the election documents in space, which are then transmitted securely. Lilian Köhler Will they win the gubernatorial race in California? With more than 39 million inhabitants and enormous economic power, California is the focus of one of the most important positions contested in the US midterms. Democrats have been ruling there since 2011. Their candidate Xavier Becerra is leading in polls. For the first time in 150 years, a governor with Mexican roots could rule the state. The Congress is in focus during the Midterms, but 36 gubernatorial positions are also being contested. Read the text by US correspondent Peter Burghardt about the gubernatorial race in California here: Read the text by US correspondent Peter Burghardt about the gubernatorial race in California here: Anne Eberhard Why do elections in the US always take place on a Tuesday? BBC journalist Laura García explains the tradition in an Instagram video. The setting of the election day dates back to the 19th century. Horse-drawn carriages and Market Day played a role. Trump appears to be in a winning position US President Donald Trump appeared to be in a winning position again on the day of the US parliamentary elections. "I believe the results will be better than you think," Trump told Fox News. He is convinced that his Republicans will maintain their majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He himself wants to follow the results in the White House. Although Trump does not admit to the election, the vote is considered a referendum on his policies. The result of the Midterms will shape the remaining two years of the Trump administration. Trump does not admit to the election, the vote is considered a referendum on his policies. The result of the Midterms will shape the remaining two years of the Trump administration. Lilian Köhler Trump's America is priceless to many Wages are growing in America slower than inflation, so people can afford less. From the view of many Americans, the limit of affordability has now been exceeded. Instead of stopping inflation, Trump is heating it up even more. He first imposed tariffs that made many goods in the US more expensive. Then he ordered Iran to be bombed. But the cost-of-living crisis does not affect everyone: The country is divided between winners and losers. Our economic correspondent in New York Ann-Kathrin Nezik was in Macon, Georgia. Read her text here: Our economic correspondent in New York Ann-Kathrin Nezik was in Macon, Georgia. Read her text here: "I hope for a blue wave" Charlotte Walser, US correspondent for the SZ, is in the capital Washington D.C. on election day and speaks with voters. Almost 60 million votes have already been cast, according to the Election Lab of the University of Florida. Kim Ball voted herself at the Eastern Market polling station in D.C. on election day. She believes the country is developing in the wrong direction. She therefore hopes for a "blue wave" – meaning clear gains for the Democrats. Isabelle Herschy goes to vote with her daughter Magdalena and says she votes especially for her daughter. Better educational opportunities and lower living costs are important to her. Christal Allerbie says she votes "to ensure that democracy is protected." Lilian Köhler Trump's balance turns out poorly Two years after his re-election, Trump is in the worst polls ever. Only a third of Americans are satisfied with him. While Trump's wealth is increasing, fewer wealthy US residents are suffering under the exorbitant cost of living. Trump had promised to lower inflation and keep the USA out of wars. The exact opposite has happened. In his world, however, everything is still in the best order: The war against Iran is almost won and the gas price will soon be under control. Read more in the text by US correspondent Peter Burghardt from Washington: Trump had promised to lower inflation and keep the USA out of wars. The exact opposite has happened. In his world, however, everything is still in the best order: The war against Iran is almost won and the gas price will soon be under control. Read more in the text by US correspondent Peter Burghardt from Washington: