The outcome of the November 3 US congressional elections may not be clear immediately in closely contested races. Recounts or legal challenges could delay the declaration of a winner, while the broader picture will depend on results from House and Senate contests across the country.

Election observers are operating in all 50 states to monitor compliance with state voting laws. Their presence is controversial: a civil rights organization sought to block the deployment in court, raising concerns that observers could deter voters. Critics have also questioned the Justice Department’s political neutrality because it reports to President Donald Trump.

Before the elections, the Justice Department sued Alaska in an effort to prevent certification of results if Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan lost. The case was dismissed. In New York, meanwhile, problems with vote-counting machines prompted local officials to coordinate with state representatives to keep voting disruptions to a minimum. Republican congressman Mike Lawler and his Democratic challenger, Cait Conley, urged voters not to be discouraged.

A tied Senate is also possible. The source notes that even with a 53-to-47 Republican majority in the current Senate, Trump has struggled to pass some proposals. A tie could make each senator’s vote especially consequential, including on judicial and Cabinet confirmations, which are decided by the Senate.

The campaigns have been costly. The New York Times put the total price of the congressional elections at nearly $4 billion, with about two-thirds spent on Senate races. The Ohio contest was nearly as expensive as the high-profile race in Texas, while Michigan’s Senate campaign also cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Public figures have weighed in on the races. Bruce Springsteen endorsed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, while singer Nicki Minaj urged voters on X to support Republicans. Actress Cynthia Nixon called for votes for Democrats.

Rain was forecast across parts of the central United States, including Iowa, Kansas and Texas, before spreading north and east toward Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The weather could affect voting in states with important races.

The election-night schedule at the White House includes a viewing event in the East Room at 7 p.m. Eastern time, with Cabinet members and other officials reportedly invited. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump voted in West Palm Beach, Florida, two weeks earlier.

Sources: FAZ.