Election Day has arrived, with voters set to decide control of Congress. The result will also be seen as a verdict on a president who is not on the ballot but has urged people to vote as if he were, according to the report.
The guide cautions that the outcome remains difficult to predict. The Senate battleground is unusually broad, forcing Republicans to defend seats in states where they have often had an easier path. At the same time, structural advantages for some Republican candidates could make it difficult for Democrats to win key contests.
Forecasters expect Republicans to lose control of the House, but the size of any loss is uncertain, and their predictions may be wrong. The guide therefore focuses on interpreting results as they arrive rather than forecasting a definitive outcome.
Some polls have already closed in Kentucky and Indiana. Although those states typically offer limited insight into the national picture, they are among the first places to watch for early election-night clues.
Sources: The New York Times Politics.