Image source, Getty Images

We've talked a bit about how the midterms could affect the 2024 presidential election, with many looking closely to see how Republican candidates backed by former President Donald Trump will fare.

One candidate to keep an eye on is fellow Republican Ron DeSantis, who is standing to be re-elected as governor of Florida during today's elections. He is also seen as one of Trump's strongest rivals to run for the party's presidential candidacy in 2024.

Over the weekend Trump took a swipe at DeSantis, calling him "Ron de Sanctimonious" at a rally in Pennsylvania. At the same time he showed the crowd what he said was polling data for how he ranked in popularity compared to other Republicans.

“Trump at 71, Ron de Sanctimonious at 10 per cent," he said.

His jibe received criticism from some members of his own party, and may have led to a slight change of tack from the former president.

At another rally in Miami last night - in DeSantis' home state - Trump endorsed the governor, urging his followers to vote for DeSantis in the midterm elections.

However, Trump also went on to say he will be making "a very big announcement" next week, seen as a suggestion that he could officially announce another run for the presidency.

Image source, EPA

It's a big day for millions of Americans, so if you're looking to get out and cast your ballot before polls start closing, here's what you need to do.

Find out where you can vote

You can find out where you can go and vote on your state's election website, external. Check if you need to take any ID along with you here, external.

Check when your polling station closes

Voting hours are different in each state. You can look up what time your polling station closes on your state’s election website. Remember, you can't vote online in any federal elections.

Can you still register to vote?

Lots of US states offer same-day voter registration - you can check here at Vote.gov, external. If your state is on the list, you'll need to take your photo ID and proof of residence along with you.

Can you still post your ballot?

You can't request a mail-in ballot anymore, but if you already have one, you can still return it by the deadline, which varies by state, external. The ballots can also be delivered in person to a secure drop box near a polling site or government building.

We spoke to two voters on opposite sides of the debate on abortion as part of our election series, The Other Side, which brings Americans together to discuss the issues dividing the nation.

The US Supreme Court's decision to end the constitutionally protected right to an abortion has energised both sides of the debate.

How likely is it that losing Republican candidates will challenge results?published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

12:38 GMT 8 November 2022

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent in Washington

Andrew Aldrich, in the UK, asks: How likely is it that losing Republican candidates will challenge results and potentially cause further civil unrest in the US?

After the 6 January attack on the US Capitol, politically motivated violence after a close election is no longer unimaginable.

By the BBC’s calculations, 35% of the Republican candidates for office fully and publicly deny Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.

It’s a reasonable assumption that if they lose their own races by a close margin, they will challenge those results as well.

Whether simply failing to accept the results of an election and refusing to formally concede would be enough to trigger more civil unrest in the US is a more difficult question to answer, however.

The 6 January attack on the US Capitol was the culmination of two months of heated rhetoric and false assertions by Donald Trump, a man with a uniquely powerful platform from which to speak and a particularly strong connection to his loyal supporters who were emotionally invested in his victory.

The US government, however, warned last week of a heightened potential for ideologically motivated attacks in the days around the election, however.

And as the recent attack on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s husband has shown, it takes only one individual to fan the flames of violence.

Won’t both Biden and Trump be too old to run in 2024?published at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

12:30 GMT 8 November 2022

Chelsea Bailey
Reporting from Washington

Aileen in the UK asks: Won’t both Biden and Trump realistically be too old in 2024 to be running for president?

One election at a time, Aileen! Just kidding.

While you must be at least 35 years old to run for office, there is no age limit to be the commander in chief.

President Joe Biden is the oldest person elected at 78, while Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was the youngest at 42.

But this question is something of an elephant in the room for today’s Republicans. Will Donald Trump - who's 76 - run in 2024? Only he truly knows, but he’s been dropping major hints at midterm campaign rallies across the country.

Over the weekend he promised supporters that they would find out his 2024 plans “very, very, very” soon. Biden has also said multiple times that he intends to run for re-election in 2024.

As we've been reporting, polls have already started opening across the US, meaning the midterm elections are well and truly under way.

There'll be lots of excitement throughout the day, including seeing key government figures heading out to cast their ballots. Former US President Donald Trump is due to vote in person in Palm Beach, Florida, at about 11:00 local time (16:00 GMT)

We'll almost certainly hear projections about which candidates will win which areas before the official results. There could be a few narrow results too, which could see Republicans oust sitting Democrats, putting the Democratic majority in Congress at risk.

In Georgia, for instance, Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock is defending his seat from controversial football legend Herschel Walker. If Walker wins, the Democrats could have a tough night ahead.

Polls are due to start closing from 19:00 EST (00:00 GMT), with results trickling in after that.

But right now, it's over to the voters. Areas were the polls have just opened include Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois and Louisiana.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

While the midterm elections will directly determine who controls both houses of Congress - think of it as similar to the UK Parliament - they are also likely to give clues as to who might end up running for the presidency in 2024.

The elections are seen as giving a verdict on the popularity of President Joe Biden's leadership, and with former President Donald Trump out campaigning for the Republicans, it gives an insight into the levels of support he can command too.

So if, for instance, the Democrats manage to hold on to power in certain states, it is likely to give them confidence in building their campaign to get President Biden re-elected in 2024.

And if Republican candidates backed by Trump do well, it is possible Republicans may feel encouraged to back Trump for a third run for president.

It also gives both parties the chance to road-test other potential candidates - former Vice-President Mike Pence and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, among others.

The election will therefore be watched very closely, and there's more at stake than the make-up of Congress.

Image source, Getty Images

If you want to follow the drama as it unfolds, we've got you covered.

The BBC News website will have election results as they come in overnight, and our live page will have the latest reaction and analysis from correspondents in the US and around the world.

We're tweeting every result on @bbcworld, external too, along with expert analysis.

On TV, our special results programme is being hosted by Katty Kay and Christian Fraser in Washington. It'll be broadcast on BBC Two, the BBC News Channel and BBC iPlayer from 18:15 ET (23:15 GMT) until 02:30 ET (07:30 GMT).

There's more on our results offering here.

Could Trump be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives?published at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

11:26 GMT 8 November 2022

Chelsea Bailey
Reporting from Washington

Jonathan, in Sweden, asks whether Trump could be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives if the Republicans win back the chamber.

Jonathan, this question is quite the curveball. The short answer is… technically, yes - although it would be an incredibly unusual decision.

The constitution simply states that “the House of Representatives shall chuse [sic] their Speaker and other officers”. This means, technically, that the Speaker of the House does not have to be a sitting member of the House of Representatives (weird, I know).

So, ostensibly, if Republicans took control of the House and wanted to install the former president as their leader, they could do that.

But it would be a huge departure from tradition as every previous Speaker has been an elected official, and constitutional scholars have said in the past that installing an outsider in the role would be “unthinkable”.

It’s also probably worth noting that though the Speaker is third in line for the presidency, the job is very procedural and focused on the day-to-day business of running the House.

Donald Trump is likely to have his sights set on the highest office in the land.

Will Biden find it difficult to get re-elected in 2024 if the Democrats lose the Senate?published at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

11:16 GMT 8 November 2022

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from New York

Komgbenda Emmanuel, in Nigeria, asks: If the Democrats lose in the Senate, would President Joe Biden find it difficult to return to the White House in 2024?

The most immediate impact of the Democratic Party losing the Senate is that it will become extremely difficult for President Biden to pass any major legislation through Congress. That could, indirectly, impact the presidential election in 2024.

Let me explain.

For federal legislation to become a law in the US, it must pass both the lower chamber of Congress, the US House of Representatives, and the upper chamber, the US Senate.

Then, the president must sign it into law. So if Republicans take over the US Senate in the 8 November election, they can simply block Democrats’ attempts to pass legislation on President Biden’s agenda.

In fact, the Republican Senate leadership could simply decide not to bring any of these bills up for a vote.

President Biden’s most immediate concern is that he won’t be able to pass anything through Congress if Republicans take over one or both chambers. That will impact his ability to govern.

Down the road, a Republican Senate could impact his chances in 2024. Voters will be looking at Biden’s record of achievement, and if he isn’t able to deliver on major promises because Congress won’t pass them, he has fewer accomplishments to show to the American people as they choose their president.

With the US economy struggling and voters concerned about crime and undocumented immigration, today's verdict could be harsh for the current president.

What's more, the outcome will influence the playing field for the 2024 presidential campaign, and especially the odds of Donald Trump running again.

With that in mind, five reasons why today's votes are so important include:

• Abortion rights or restrictions
• The turn of Republicans to investigate Democrats
• Joe Biden's future
• Whether Trump runs again
• Will election deniers be running elections?

For more on each of these, read this.

Image source, EPA

Voting centres are continuing to open across the US as this year’s midterm elections get under way.

As of 06:00 ET (11:00 GMT), residents of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other East Coast states are able to go and cast their ballots.

And in about half an hour, it'll be the same for people living in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.

Remember, this isn't an election for a new US president - rather it's for Congress, which is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The House, as it's commonly called, is like the House of Commons in the UK: it's the lower house of Parliament. The Senate, on the other hand, is like the House of Lords - the upper house.

We'll continue to bring you news and analysis as voting gets under way, so stay tuned.

How can the US unite when political parties disagree on the facts?published at 10:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

10:50 GMT 8 November 2022

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Chicago

Daniel, in the US, asks: How do you unite the country when the leadership of political parties believe different facts?

It’s the job of politicians and political parties to disagree. And yes, sometimes that means cherry-picking some facts or choosing to ignore others.

But there’s one key issue where “different facts” threaten the American system. It’s what US media call the “Big Lie” - the idea, pushed by Donald Trump, that the 2020 election was somehow “stolen” or “rigged”.

No evidence has turned up to support this, but that hasn’t stopped hundreds of candidates from following Trump’s lead.

We estimate that about a third of high-level Republican candidates have publicly pushed the “election denial” narrative. One expert told us that electing conspiracy theorists could be “fundamentally dangerous”.

It’s worth noting that many other Republicans reject the Big Lie.

At the same time, election denial candidates don’t see themselves as spreading conspiracy theories. As Audrey Trujillo, who’s running for New Mexico secretary of state, wrote me in an email: “I am an election defender, not denier!”

This - more than party affiliation - is the new fault-line in American politics: between people who think the election system is fair, and those who claim, contrary to evidence, that it’s fundamentally broken.

Why do midterm elections matter so much?published at 10:40 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

10:40 GMT 8 November 2022

Chelsea Bailey
Reporting from Washington

Draga in Uganda asks: Why do midterm elections matter so much in the US democratic system?

While they don’t usually get as much attention as a presidential election, the midterms are really key to shaping the second half of a president’s four-year term in office.

Think of the midterms like Joe Biden’s presidential progress report. The elections happen midway through his time in office and offer a chance for American voters to say if they’re satisfied with how he’s leading the country.

The midterms tend to be really tough on the party that’s currently in office - and they present an opportunity for the minority party (in this case, the Republicans) to take advantage of any feelings of dissatisfaction and pick up more seats in Congress.

Coming up... your questions answeredpublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time 8 November 2022

10:34 GMT 8 November 2022

We'll be joined shortly by the BBC’s North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and US national reporters Kayla Epstein, Chelsea Bailey and Mike Wendling to answer some of your questions about the US midterm elections.

Image source, .

The first votes are being cast at the polls as millions of people in the US prepare to make their voices heard in the midterm elections - and, according to the boss of a South Carolina-based wealth management firm, the number one issue driving voters to the polls today will be the economy.

That “combined with high prices and inflation... it’s all weighing on consumers”, Walter Todd, chief investment officer at Greenwood Capital, tells BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

He argues the outlook for the election - at least for Republican voters - is a desire for a “Republican wave” to take over the House of Representatives, which the Democrats currently have a majority in.

Asked what difference that will make with US President Joe Biden - a Democrat - in power for at least another two years, Todd says it’ll “set the table” for the 2024 election, and that “real policy” can get under way.

The issue of energy is also a focus of today’s vote, he says, appearing to begrudge the Democrats for being “focused on alternative sources”. If the Republicans take back power in Congress, there could be a shift towards using fossil fuel-based energy once again, Todd says.

Image source, .

Like the Senate, Democrats narrowly control the House of Representatives. A party needs 218 seats to hold the majority.

The Democrats are defending 220 seats, and the Republicans 212.

So the Republicans just need an overall gain of six seats to win the House.

Image source, .

Heading into the midterm elections, the US Senate is split 50/50 between Republicans and Democrats (who have two independent senators siding with them).

Currently, Democrats control the Senate as US Vice-President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, holds the tie-breaker vote.

But the Democrats’ narrow hold means a net loss of even one seat would tilt power in favour of the Republicans.

You can read more here about how races in Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania could determine the future of the Senate, as all are key toss-up states that are too close to call.

Image source, Reuters

Many Americans will soon be waking up and preparing to cast their vote in today's midterm elections.

The first poll to open will be in Vermont, at 05:00 ET (10:00 GMT), which sits in the north-east of the US, a solidly Democratic state which backed President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

An hour later, the likes of Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, New York and Virginia will all open, too.

Some 43 million US residents have already voted, either via post or getting to booths early, but the majority of people will cast their ballots today.

Stay with us for all the latest.

Mitch Mansfield
Newsbeat reporter in Washington DC

There was probably a time when posting videos about the politics of farming on social media definitely wasn't considered cool.

But TikTok may have changed that, and it could be changing the results of elections too.

Videos about this month's US midterms have been viewed hundreds of millions of times.

There are concerns about the spread of misinformation on the platform, but young influencers insist it can be a force for good.

"It's a social media election and TikTok is playing a huge part," Sam Shlafstein from Gen-Z for Change tells BBC Newsbeat.

But Savannah Craven, a 21-year-old anti-abortion campaigner who has gained over 170,000 followers on the platform in a year, says that although TikTok has become "an incredible outlet" for her to express her views, the best way to campaign and persuade voters is still face to face, "to show that I'm a real person, this is not an act I'm putting on".

Read more here.