Texas 2026 Midterm Election Results Reporting Schedule Explained

Preliminary midterm election results in Texas will begin arriving shortly after polls close at 7 p.m. tonight. These early figures will give Texans a first look at potential local, state and federal leaders.

The first waves of results will reflect ballots cast during the early voting period. Election officials across the state will post rounds of unofficial results throughout the evening and into early Wednesday.

“State law requires Election Day totals to be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close.”

Official results will take much longer to release because officials must consolidate ballots and follow detailed procedures to ensure accuracy. Tens of thousands of ballots in the largest counties will move from hundreds of voting locations to county election offices.

Counties with more than 100,000 residents may begin counting received mail-in ballots after polls close on the last day of early voting. Smaller counties may start counting on the morning of Election Day.

Once counting begins, it cannot stop until completed. State law requires Election Day totals to be submitted to the state within 24 hours after polls close.

Election workers will manually enter totals for every race into the statewide election management system. The secretary of state’s office will review county reports before unofficial election night results are finalized.

Polling locations must remain open until everyone in line at 7 p.m. casts a ballot, which can slow the counting timetable.