Polling stations opened in eastern US states on Tuesday as Americans headed to the polls in midterm elections to choose members of Congress, governors and other state and local officials.

Polling began at 6 am local time (1100GMT) in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Virginia and parts of Indiana and Kentucky.

Polling stations opened next at 6.30 am Eastern time (1130GMT) in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia.

A broad wave of polling stations opened at 1200GMT, including those opening at 7 am Eastern time in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, most of Rhode Island, South Carolina and eastern parts of Florida and Michigan, as well as those opening at 6 am Central time in Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri and western parts of Indiana and Kentucky.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats are being contested, along with governorships in 36 states. Voters are also electing state lawmakers and other local officials, while some states are holding referendums on policy issues.

Republicans currently control both chambers of Congress, while Democrats are seeking to gain control of at least one chamber and limit President Donald Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda.

Voting will continue throughout the day across multiple time zones, with the first regular poll closings scheduled for 6 pm ET. (AA)